GNU Project

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GNU Project
FormationSeptember  27, 1983 (1983-09-27)
FounderRichard Stallman
TypeFree software
Parent organization
Free Software Foundation
Websitewww.gnu.org


The GNU Project is a free software, mass collaboration project, first announced on September 27, 1983, by Richard Stallman at MIT. The goal of the project is to give computer users freedom and control in their use of their computers and computing devices, by collaboratively developing and providing software that is based on the principles of free software. The name "GNU" is a recursive acronym for "GNU's Not Unix!", which was chosen because GNU's design is Unix-like, but differs from Unix by being free software and containing no Unix code.

History[edit | edit source]

The GNU Project was publicly announced on September 27, 1983, on the net.unix-wizards and net.usoft newsgroups by Richard Stallman. Stallman started the project as a response to the increasing proprietary nature of software at the time. He wanted to create a free Unix-like operating system, which would be composed entirely of free software.

In 1985, Stallman founded the Free Software Foundation (FSF) to support the GNU Project and promote the free software philosophy. The FSF also provides legal and organizational infrastructure for the GNU Project.

Components[edit | edit source]

The GNU Project has developed a wide range of software, including:

These components are used in many Unix-like operating systems, such as Linux distributions, which often combine GNU software with the Linux kernel.

Philosophy[edit | edit source]

The GNU Project is based on the philosophy of free software, which is defined by the Four Freedoms:

  1. The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose.
  2. The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make it do what you wish.
  3. The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others.
  4. The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others.

These freedoms ensure that users have control over the software they use and can collaborate to improve it.

Licensing[edit | edit source]

The GNU Project uses the GNU General Public License (GPL) for most of its software. The GPL is a copyleft license, which means that derivative works can only be distributed under the same license terms. This ensures that the software remains free and that all users have the same freedoms.

Impact[edit | edit source]

The GNU Project has had a significant impact on the software industry and the development of free software. Many of the tools and components developed by the GNU Project are widely used in various operating systems and have become standard tools for software development.

The philosophy and principles of the GNU Project have also influenced other free software projects and movements, contributing to the growth of the free software community.

See also[edit | edit source]

Related pages[edit | edit source]

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD