We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Internet

What is the GNU Project?

Mary Elizabeth
By
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

In 1971, Richard Stallman began working at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab, and thereby joined an existing software sharing community in which source code was freely shared. In the 1980s, when the computer for which the shared software had been developed was discontinued and its programs were no longer usable, the computer was replaced and proprietary software took the place of the software with freely available and modifiable source code. In the face of this, Stallman decided to build a new community, starting with a free operating system that was compatible with Unix, but not Unix, hence the name self-referential name “GNU’s Not Unix,” referred to by the acronym GNU. This was the beginning of the GNU Project.

Stallman left MIT in 1984 to begin developing GNU software. A GNU “task list” was developed to make sure that all components that would allow users to have a complete set of software were developed. The development of Linux by Linus Torvalds provided a kernel, and made the GNU operating system operational, and continuing development has focused on other applications. As distribution became an issue, the copyleft — as opposed to copyright — concept was evolved by the GNU Project, based on the word coined by Don Hopkins. Generically, a copyleft software license makes provisions so that the software is, and will remain free, in the GNU Project conception of the term.

In connection with the copyleft licensing, Stallman defined a distinctive meaning for free software, which includes four freedoms, numbered 0–3, and they can be summarized as follows. Freedom 0 grants permission to run the program with no limitations on purpose — that is, the software does not have to be used as the developer or developers intended. Freedom 1 prescribes source code access and grants the user freedom to change it as desired. Freedom 2 mandates freedom to further distribute copies of the original software, and freedom 3 promotes the freedom to distribute copies of user-modified software. Although it is not a numbered freedom, the concept extends to requiring free software manuals.

It is important to note that the GNU Project definition of free does not mean “without money changing hands.” The GNU license allows people to charge a distribution fee for distributing the GNU software of others and to charge for time spent in developing modifications. The GNU Project definition of free also does not mean “noncommercial.” Products created and/or modified under GNU license terms may be sold as a business venture. It is also important to distinguish the GNU free software concept from open-source software, which is a different construct.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary Elizabeth
By Mary Elizabeth
Passionate about reading, writing, and research, Mary Elizabeth is dedicated to correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to writing articles on art, literature, and music for WiseGEEK, Mary works as a teacher, composer, and author who has written books, study guides, and teaching materials. Mary has also created music composition content for Sibelius Software. She earned her B.A. from University of Chicago's writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth

Passionate about reading, writing, and research, Mary Elizabeth is dedicated to correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to writing articles on art, literature, and music for WiseGEEK, Mary works as a teacher, composer, and author who has written books, study guides, and teaching materials. Mary has also created music composition content for Sibelius Software. She earned her B.A. from University of Chicago's writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont.
WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.