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ClueBot NG (talk | contribs) m Reverting possible vandalism by 2806:10A6:D:EF56:2C2F:5F79:CB49:A870 to version by Mindmatrix. Report False Positive? Thanks, ClueBot NG. (4293883) (Bot) |
m →Origins: "they" clearly refers to the GNU project which is already a topical entity. say "it" to remove the wikipolitics that just can't keep itself in bed |
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{{short description|Free software project}}
{{distinguish
{{primary sources | date=January 2013}}
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}}</ref>]]
The '''GNU Project''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-gnu.ogg|ɡ|n|uː}} {{respell|GNOO}})<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://gnu.org/
| title = What is GNU?
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040402153847/http://www.gnu.org/home.hu.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref> is a [[free software]], [[mass collaboration]] project announced by [[Richard Stallman]] on September 27, 1983. Its goal is to give computer users freedom and control in their use of their computers and [[Computer hardware|computing devices]] by collaboratively developing and publishing software that gives everyone the rights to freely run the software, copy and distribute it, study it, and modify it. GNU software grants these rights in
In order to ensure that the ''entire'' software of a computer grants its users all freedom rights (use, share, study, modify), even the most fundamental and important part, the [[operating system]] (including all its numerous utility programs) needed to be free software. Stallman decided to call this operating system ''[[GNU]]'' (a [[recursive acronym]] meaning "''GNU's not Unix!''"), basing its design on that of [[Unix]], a proprietary operating system.<ref name="manifesto">{{cite web
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180714090017/https://www.gnu.org/gnu/manifesto.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref> According to its manifesto, the founding goal of the project was to build a free operating system, and if possible, "everything useful that normally comes with a Unix system so that one could get along without any software that is not free." Development was initiated in January 1984. In 1991, the [[Linux kernel]] appeared, developed outside the GNU
| url = https://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/msg/b813d52cbc5a044b
| title = comp.os.minix
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130509134305/http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/msg/b813d52cbc5a044b
| url-status = live
}}</ref> and in December 1992, it was made available under version 2 of the [[GNU General Public License]].<ref name="gpl_version">{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/Historic/v0.99/linux-0.99.tar.Z |title=z-archive of Linux version 0.99 |website=The Linux Kernel Archives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130050958/ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/Historic/v0.99/linux-0.99.tar.Z
| title = Losing graciously
| url = http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/1316
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Richard Stallman announced his intent to start coding the GNU Project in a [[Usenet]] message in September 1983.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/net.unix-wizards/8twfRPM79u0/1xlglzrWrU0J | title = new Unix implementation | author = Richard Stallman | access-date = 2013-09-27 | archive-date = 2011-01-22 | archive-url = http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20110122130054/https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/net.unix-wizards/8twfRPM79u0/1xlglzrWrU0J | url-status = live }}</ref> Despite never having used Unix prior, Stallman felt that it was the most appropriate system design to use as a basis for the GNU Project, as it was portable and "fairly clean".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stallman.org/cgi-bin/showpage.cgi?path=/stallman-computing.html&term=unix&type=norm&case=0 |title=How I do my computing |author=Stallman, Richard |date=2022 |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131153156/https://stallman.org/cgi-bin/showpage.cgi?path=/stallman-computing.html&term=unix&type=norm&case=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
When the GNU
| url = https://www.gnu.org/bulletins/bull3.html#SEC11
| title = GNU's Bulletin, vol. 1 no. 3
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151125053210/https://www.gnu.org/bulletins/bull3.html#SEC11
| url-status = live
}}</ref> They{{Who|date=May 2025}} had an initial kernel that needed more updates.
Once the [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] and the compiler were finished, GNU was able to be used for [[Software development process|program development]]. The main goal was to create many other applications to be like the Unix system. GNU was able to run Unix programs, but was not identical to it. GNU incorporated longer file names, file version numbers, and a
The origins and development of most aspects of the GNU Project (and free software in general) are shared in a detailed narrative in the Emacs help system. (C-h g runs the Emacs editor command <kbd>describe-gnu-project</kbd>.) It is the same detailed history as at their web site.
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== GNU Manifesto ==
{{Main
The GNU Manifesto was written by Richard Stallman to gain support and participation in the GNU Project. In the GNU Manifesto, Stallman listed four freedoms essential to software users: freedom to run a program for any purpose, freedom to study the mechanics of the program and modify it, freedom to redistribute copies, and freedom to improve and change modified versions for public use.<ref name="GNU Manifesto">{{cite web
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== Free software ==
The GNU
== Funding ==
Proceeds from [[Free Software Foundation]] associate members, purchases, and donations support the GNU Project.<ref>[https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html#funds Helping the GNU Project and the Free Software Movement – GNU Project – Free Software Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225192237/http://www.gnu.org/help/help.html#funds |date=2015-12-25 }}. gnu.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-17.</ref>
== Copyleft ==
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{{main|GNU}}
The first goal of the GNU
| url = https://www.gnu.org/bulletins/bull1.txt
| title = GNU's Bulletin Volume 1 No.1
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}}</ref>
By 1992, the GNU
| url = https://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/browse_thread/thread/76536d1fb451ac60/b813d52cbc5a044b
| title = What would you like to see most in minix?
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}}</ref>
As of present, the GNU
== GNU/Linux ==
A stable version (or variant) of GNU can be run by combining the GNU packages with the [[Linux kernel]], making a functional [[Unix-like]] system. The GNU
* GNU packages<ref name=gnu_packages>{{cite web
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}}</ref><ref name=gnu_packages_fsf>[http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/GNU GNU @ Free Software Directory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205084519/http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/GNU |date=2015-12-05 }} (fsf.org)</ref> (except for GNU Hurd) <br />The GNU packages consist of numerous operating system tools and utilities ([[Bash (Unix shell)|shell]], [[GNU Core Utilities|coreutils]], compilers, libraries, etc.)<ref name=gnu_packages /><ref name=gnu_packages_fsf /> including a library implementation of all of the functions specified in [[POSIX]] System Application Program Interface (POSIX.1).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/software/libc/manual/html_node/POSIX.html |title=POSIX – The GNU C Library |access-date=2014-04-18 |archive-date=2014-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424011018/http://www.gnu.org/software/libc/manual/html_node/POSIX.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[[GNU C Library#A temporary fork]]</ref> The GCC compiler can generate machine-code for a large variety of computer-architectures.<ref>[[GNU Compiler Collection#Architectures|GCC Architectures]]</ref>
* [[Linux kernel]] – this implements program scheduling, multitasking, device drivers, memory management, etc. and allows the system to run on a large [[List of Linux-supported computer architectures|variety of computer-architectures]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kernel.org/#whatislinux |title=The Linux Kernel Archives |access-date=2016-07-25 |archive-date=2011-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221140221/http://www.kernel.org/#whatislinux |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Linus Torvalds]] released the [[Linux kernel]] under the [[GNU General Public License]] in 1992;<ref name=linux_free>{{Cite web |url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/linux/historical/kernel/old-versions/RELNOTES-0.12 |title=Release Notes for Linux v0.12 |access-date=2012-12-24 |archive-date=2013-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526191714/http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/linux/historical/kernel/old-versions/RELNOTES-0.12 |url-status=live }}</ref> it is however not part of the GNU
* non-GNU programs – various free software packages which are not a part of the GNU Project but are released under the [[GNU General Public License]] or another [[Free software license#FSF-approved .22free software.22 licenses|FSF-approved Free Software License]].
Within the GNU website, a list of projects is laid out and each project has specifics for what type of developer is able to perform the task needed for a certain piece of the GNU
The packaging of GNU tools, together with the Linux kernel and other programs, is usually called a [[Linux distribution]] (distro). The GNU Project calls the combination of GNU and the Linux kernel "GNU/Linux", and asks others to do the same,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#why |title=Why do you call it GNU/Linux and not Linux? |access-date=2014-04-18 |archive-date=2013-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907132420/http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#why |url-status=live }}</ref> resulting in the [[GNU/Linux naming controversy]].
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=== GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines ===
{{Anchor|Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG)|GNU FSDG|FSDG}}
The GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG) is a system distribution commitment
| url = https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html
| title = Guidelines for Free System Distributions
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208205726/https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Avoiding Ruinous Compromises |url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/compromise.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622094238/http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/compromise.html |archive-date=2018-06-22 |access-date=2016-07-22 |work=www.gnu.org}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems |url=https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |work=GNU |access-date=2016-07-22 |archive-date=2011-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424061731/http://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Distributions that have adopted the GNU FSDG include [[Dragora GNU/Linux-Libre]], [[GNU Guix System]], [[Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre]], [[Parabola GNU/Linux-libre]], [[Trisquel GNU/Linux]], [[PureOS]], and a few others.<ref name="gnu">{{cite web▼
▲ }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems |url=https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |work=GNU |access-date=2016-07-22 |archive-date=2011-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424061731/http://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Distributions that have adopted the GNU FSDG include [[Dragora GNU/Linux-Libre]], [[GNU Guix System]], [[Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre]], [[Parabola GNU/Linux-libre]], [[Trisquel GNU/Linux]], [[PureOS]], and a few others.<ref name="gnu">{{cite web
| url = https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html
| title = List of Free GNU/Linux Distributions – GNU Project – Free Software Foundation
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=== GNOME ===
The [[GNOME]] desktop effort was launched by the GNU Project because another desktop system, [[KDE]], was becoming popular, but required users to install [[Qt (toolkit)|Qt]], which was then [[proprietary software]]. To prevent people from being tempted to install KDE and Qt, the GNU Project simultaneously launched two projects. One was the [[Harmony toolkit]]. This was an attempt to make a free software replacement for Qt. Had this project been successful, the perceived problem with the KDE would have been solved. The second project was GNOME, which tackled the same issue from a different angle. It aimed to make a replacement for KDE that had no dependencies on proprietary software. The Harmony project did not make much progress, but GNOME developed very well. Eventually, the proprietary component that KDE depended on ([[Qt (toolkit)|Qt]]) was released as free software.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stallman |first=Richard |date=September 5, 2000 |title=Stallman on Qt, the GPL, KDE, and GNOME |url=https://www.linuxtoday.com/developer/stallman-on-qt-the-gpl-kde-and-gnome/ |access-date=2005-09-09 |publisher=Linux Today |archive-date=2012-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419013021/http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2000-09-05-001-21-OP-LF-KE |url-status=live }}</ref> GNOME has since dissociated itself from the GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation, and is now independently managed by the [[GNOME Project]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}
=== {{anchor | GNU Enterprise}}GNU Enterprise ===
'''GNU Enterprise''' ('''GNUe''')
== Recognition ==
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