GNU
 | |
| Developer(s) | Free Software Foundation |
|---|---|
| Repository |
|
| Engine | |
| License | GNU General Public License |
| Website | www.gnu.org |
GNU is a free software operating system developed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). The name "GNU" is a recursive acronym for "GNU's Not Unix!", which signifies that GNU is similar to Unix but is free software and contains no Unix code. The GNU Project was initiated by Richard Stallman in 1983 to create a complete Unix-compatible software system composed entirely of free software.
History[edit | edit source]
The GNU Project was publicly announced on September 27, 1983, by Richard Stallman. The goal was to develop a free Unix-like operating system. The project aimed to provide a free software alternative to proprietary Unix systems, which were prevalent at the time.
Components[edit | edit source]
GNU is composed of various components, including:
- GNU Hurd: The official kernel of the GNU system, which is a collection of servers running on the Mach microkernel.
- GNU Compiler Collection (GCC): A compiler system supporting various programming languages.
- GNU Core Utilities: Basic file, shell, and text manipulation utilities.
- GNU C Library (glibc): The C standard library used in many Unix-like operating systems.
- GNU Bash: The Bourne Again Shell, a command processor that typically runs in a text window.
Licensing[edit | edit source]
All GNU software is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which ensures that the software is free to use, modify, and distribute. The GPL is a widely used free software license, which guarantees end users the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software.
Impact[edit | edit source]
The GNU Project has had a significant impact on the development of free software. Many of its components are used in various Linux distributions, which combine the GNU system with the Linux kernel. This combination is often referred to as GNU/Linux.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
- Free Software Foundation
- Richard Stallman
- GNU General Public License
- GNU Hurd
- Linux kernel
- GNU/Linux naming controversy
- Unix
- Free and open-source software
See Also[edit | edit source]
Categories[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
