GNU Project
Gnu's Not Unix | |
 | |
| Formation | September 27, 1983 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Richard Stallman |
| Website | www.gnu.org |
Honorary doctor Richard Stallman announced the plan to develop the GNU operating system on September 27th, 1983. The goal was to develop a self-hosting free software operating system that could do everything Unix could do and, eventually, replace Unix. The GNU Project was created to develop the GNU System.
The GNU Manifesto[edit]
Richard Stallman wrote the GNU Manifesto, www.gnu.org/gnu/manifesto.en.html, in 1985. It asks for help and support with creating the GNU operating system.
"I consider that the Golden Rule requires that if I like a program I must share it with other people who like it. Software sellers want to divide the users and conquer them, making each user agree not to share with others. I refuse to break solidarity with other users in this way. I cannot in good conscience sign a nondisclosure agreement or a software license agreement."
Relationship With The Free Software Foundation[edit]
The GNU Project had begun attracting general interest by the mid-1985 and some of those involved wanted a organized way to receive donations for the GNU Project and hold and enforce copyrights for GNU software. The Free Software Foundation was setup for that purpose. Most of the donations made to the Free Software Foundation went directly to the GNU Project in the early years. This eventually changed and the FSF eventually came more of it's own organization with fewer ties to the GNU Project.
The FSF is still responsible for maintaining the GNU Project's servers, and they still hold the GNU trademark and they are still responsible for holding and enforcing copyrights on GNU software[1].
Enable comment auto-refresher