
The GNU Operating System and the Free Software Movement
Nov 15, 2025 · What is GNU? GNU is an operating system that is free software —that is, it respects users' freedom. The GNU operating system consists of GNU packages (programs specifically …
Software - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Jul 31, 2024 · Technically, GNU is generally like Unix. But unlike Unix, GNU gives its users freedom. The GNU system contains all of the official GNU software packages (which are listed below), and …
GNU in a Nutshell - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Oct 24, 2021 · The name of the system, GNU, is a recursive acronym meaning GNU's Not Unix—a way of paying tribute to the technical ideas of Unix, while at the same time saying that GNU is something …
Linux and GNU - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Oct 27, 2025 · Since 1983, developing the free Unix style operating system GNU, so that computer users can have the freedom to share and improve the software they use.
About the GNU Operating System - GNU project - Free Software …
They show some of his thinking on the way towards launching the development of the GNU system. They don't use the term “free software”; apparently he had not yet started to put those two words …
GNU/Linux FAQ - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Oct 27, 2025 · When people see that we use and recommend the name GNU/Linux for a system that many others call just “Linux,” they ask many questions. Here are common questions, and our answers.
Overview of the GNU System - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Oct 27, 2025 · GNU stands for “GNU's Not Unix.” It is pronounced as one syllable with a hard g. Richard Stallman made the Initial Announcement of the GNU Project in September 1983. A longer version …
About the GNU Project - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Jan 20, 2025 · The name GNU was chosen, following a hacker tradition, as a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not Unix.” It is pronounced as one syllable with a hard g. An operating system does not …
GCC, the GNU Compiler Collection - GNU Project
Jul 19, 2024 · GCC was originally written as the compiler for the GNU operating system. The GNU system was developed to be 100% free software, free in the sense that it respects the user's freedom.
List of Free GNU/Linux Distributions - GNU Project - Free Software ...
Sep 17, 2025 · Free GNU/Linux distributions This page lists the GNU/Linux distributions that are entirely free as in freedom. Non-GNU-based free system distributions are listed separately.