GNU Project Overview

The GNU project developed a Unix-compatible, fully-free software system named "GNU" (GNU's not UNIX. Richard Stallman's initial documentation in the GNU project is called the GNU Declaration (31 K bytes) and has been translated into multiple languages. We also wrote the start statement of the GNU project in 1984.

The above word "free" is about freedom, not price. You can pay for or not to pay for the GNU software. In any case, once you get the software, you have the three specified freedom to use it. First, the freedom to copy the software and send it to your friends and colleagues; second, the freedom to change the program at will through full control of the source code; again, it is the freedom to release improved versions to help build communities. (If you release the GNU software again, you will be charged for the physical behavior during the transfer copy process. You can also give away the copy .)

In 1983, the GNU project was conceived as a way to return to the widespread spirit of cooperation in the early computer community-by removing the barriers set by private software owners, cooperation was once again possible.

When Richard Stallman started his career at MIT in 1971, he worked in a group that only uses free software. Even computer companies often release free software. Programmers can freely cooperate with each other, and they often do the same.

By 1980s, almost all software was private (18 K bytes), meaning it had owners who prohibited and prevented user cooperation. This makes the GNU project inevitable.

Every computer user needs an operating system. If there is no free operating system, you will not even be able to start using the computer without using private software. So the first thing on the Free Software agenda is a free operating system.

An operating system is not just a kernel; it also includes compilers, editors, Text Formatting software, mail software, and many other things. Therefore, writing a complete operating system is a huge task. It takes years.

We decided to make the operating system compatible with Unix because its overall design was tested and cross-platform, and because of its compatibility, Unix users were easily transferred from UNIX to GNU.

The initial goal of a free UNIX-like operating system has been achieved. By 1990s, we may have found or written all the major components except the kernel. Then Linus Torvalds developed Linux-a free kernel. The combination of Linux and the almost completed GNU system gave birth to a complete Operating System: a Linux-based GNU system. It is estimated that millions of people are using Linux-based GNU systems, including slackware, Debian, red hat, and others.

However, the GNU project is not limited to the operating system. Our goal is to provide a complete software series that meets any requirements of many users. This includes application software. We already have a workbook. In the future, we hope to extend GNU Emacs to make it a WYSIWYG desktop publishing system.

We also hope to provide software for non-computer expert users. Therefore, we are now developing a desktop with Drag and Drop icons to help beginners use the GNU system.

We also want to provide games and other entertainment software. You can get some free games.

How far will free software go? There is no end unless, for example, a patent system and other laws completely prohibit free software. The ultimate goal is to provide free software for all the work that computer users want to do-and therefore discard private software.

From gnu.org
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