Dictionary
large African antelope having a head with horns like an ox and a long tufted tail
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Wikipedia
dablink For the African animal gnu, see wildebeest. GNU is a free software operating system. Its name is a recursive acronym for "GNU's Not UnixUnix", which was chosen because its design is Unix-like, but it contains no actual UnixUNIX code. The GNU system, combined with a third-party kernel (computer science)kernel called Linux kernelLinux, is one of the most widely-used operating systems in the world, commonly known as either "GNU/Linux" or often simply "Linux" (see GNU/Linux naming debate). The plan for the GNU operating system was announced in September 1983 by Richard Stallman and software development work began in January 1984.
History - The GNU project was announced publicly on September 27, 1983, on the net.unix-wizards and net.usoft newsgroups. Software development began in earnest on January 5, 1984, when Stallman quit his job at Massachusetts Institute of Technology so that they could not claim ownership or interfere with distributing GNU as free software. The goal was to bring a wholely free software operating system into existence. Stallman wanted computer users to be free - like most were in the 60s and 70s - free to study the source code of the software they use, free to modify the behaviour of the software, and free to publish their modified versions of the software. This philosophy was published in March 1985 as The GNU Manifesto.The majority of the software needed had to be written from scratch, but when compatible free software components already existed, they were used. Two examples were the TeX typesetting system, and the X Windows graphical windowing system. Most of GNU has been written by volunteers. Some in their spare time, or some paid by other companies. In October 1985, Stallman set up the Free Software Foundation (FSF). In the mid- and late-80s, FSF hired software developers to write the software needed for GNU. At it's peak it had 15 software developers on its staff. FSF also holds the copyrights for almost every part of GNU. Most of the components of GNU are licensed under the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL), while a few use the GNU Lesser General Public License (GNU LGPL), and a still smaller amount use other free software licenses. Unix, a proprietary softwareproprietary operating system, was already in widespread use when GNU was proposed. Since Unix's architecture had proven technically sound, the GNU system was designed to be compatible with it. The Unix architecture allowed GNU to be written as individual software components. Components that were already freely available, such as the TeX typesetting system and the X Window SystemX Window graphics system, would be adapted and reused, while components that were not would be written from scratch.In 1985, Stallman founded the Free Software Foundation (FSF), a tax-exempt non-profit organization, to provide logistical, legal, and financial support for the GNU project. The FSF also employed programmers to contribute to GNU, though a substantial portion of development was (and continues to be) performed by volunteers. As GNU gained prominence, interested businesses began contributing to development or selling GNU software and technical support. The most prominent and successful of these was Cygnus Solutions, now part of Red Hat.In order to ensure that GNU software remains free, the project released the first version of the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL) in 1989. This license is now used by most GNU programs, as well as a large number of free software programs that are not part of the GNU project; it is one of the most commonly-used free software licenses in the world. It gives all recipients of a program the right to run, copy, modify and distribute it, while forbidding them from imposing further restrictions on any copies they distribute. This idea is referred to as copyleft.
Design and implementation - The initial plan for GNU was to be mostly Unix-compatible, while adding enhancements where they were useful. The design of the kernel was GNU's largest departure from "traditional" Unix. GNU's kernel was to be a multi-server micro-kerenl.GNU Hurd as its core (a microkernel and a set of programs called servers that offers the same functionality as the traditional Unix kernel or Linux).GNU (using Hurd) can be tried using a live CD. available (See #external links).By 1990, the GNU system had an extensible text editor (Emacs), a very successful optimizing compiler (GNU Compiler CollectionGCC), and most of the core libraries and utilities of a standard Unix distribution. The main component still missing was the kernel (computers)kernel. In the GNU Manifesto, Stallman had mentioned that "an initial kernel exists but many more features are needed to emulate Unix." He was referring to TRIX, a remote procedure call kernel developed at MIT, whose authors had decided to distribute for free, and was compatible with Version 7 Unix. In December 1986, work had started on modifying this kernel. However, the developers eventually decided it was unusable as a starting point, primarily because it only ran on "an obscure, expensive 68000 box" and would therefore have to be portingported to other architectures before it could be used. By 1988, the Mach kernelMach message-passing kernel being developed at Carnegie Mellon UniversityCMU was being considered instead, although its release as free software was delayed till 1990 while its developers worked to remove code owned by AT&T.Since the Mach microkernel, by design, provided just the low-level kernel functionality, the GNU Project had to develop the higher-level parts of the kernel, as a collection of user programs. Initially, this collection was to be called Alix, but developer Michael Bushnell later preferred the name GNU HurdHurd, so the Alix name was moved to a subsystem and eventually dropped completely. Eventually, development of the Hurd stalled due to technical reasons and personality conflicts.GNU/Hurd refers to the GNU OS distribution that uses GNU Hurd as its core. GNU Hurd is the set of programs or servers run on top of a microkernel (it currently uses the GNU Mach microkernel, but efforts port the Hurd to the L4 microkernel familyL4 microkernel are currently ongoing). The "GNU" in GNU Hurd indicates that it is a part of the GNU project, while "GNU/Hurd" distinguishes it as one of the two currently available GNU systems--that is, Linux-based GNU systems (or "GNU/Linux") as opposed to Hurd-based GNU systems (or "GNU/Hurd"). Just "GNU" refers to GNU/Hurd or a Hurd-based GNU system. "GNU/Linux" is pronounced "GNU-slash-Linux", or more often, just "GNU Linux". However, the FSF contests that "GNU Linux", by the rules of the English language, refers to a distribution of the kernel Linux by the GNU project or GNU project's version of it; "GNU/Linux", they say, makes it clear that a person is referring to the combination of the kernel Linux and the GNU userland binaries, forming a complete GNU OS. Linus Torvalds, original author of the kernel, does not approve of the term "GNU/Linux"; he prefers "GNU Linux" if the GNU project "wants its own distribution."In 1991, Linus Torvalds wrote the Unix-compatible Linux kernel. Although it was not originally free software, Torvalds changed the license to the GNU GPL in 1992. Linux was further developed by various programmers over the Internet. In 1992, it was combined with the GNU system, resulting in a fully functional free operating system. The GNU system is most commonly encountered in this form, usually referred to as a "GNU/Linux system" or a "Linux distribution". As of 2005, GNU HurdHurd is in slow development, and is now the official kernel of the GNU system. There is also a project working on porting the GNU system to the kernels of FreeBSD and NetBSD.On the 20th anniversary of the GNU Project (January 5 2004), the Irish Free Software Organisation was founded to promote free software in Ireland.
GNU software - Prominent components of the GNU system include the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC), the GNU C Library (glibc), the GNU Emacs text editor, and the GNOME graphical desktop.Many GNU programs have been ported to other operating systems and are often installed on proprietary softwareproprietary UnixUNIX systems to replace the proprietary utilities. As well as giving users freedom, many of these GNU programs have been proven to be more reliable than their Unix counterparts ftp.cs.wisc.edu. The reputation of GNU software is especially good for its software development tools, which are sometimes collectively called the ''GNU toolset''. Making up but a small fraction of the GNU system as a whole, some people consider the toolset to be of superior quality to many of the equivalent Unix versions, even if the GNU versions are not totally POSIX compliant. With the popularity of GNU/Linux systems, many developers install the GNU toolset on other systems for compatibility or to capture uniform behavior across platforms. Many GNU programs have also been ported to Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and various other proprietary platforms, however, the motive for developing these programs was to contribute to replacing those systems with free software, not to enhance them.A list of packages that are well known in the free software and Unix communities includes:System software*GNU_bisonBison – parser generator intended to replace yacc*Bash – Unix shellcommand shell*Binary File DescriptorBFD – object file Library (computer science)library*Classpath – libraries for Java programming languageJava*Coreutils – basic Unix utilities such as cat (Unix)cat, ls, and rm (Unix)rm*Emacs – extensible, self-documenting text editor*glibc – Standard POSIX C programming languageC library, plus additional functionality*gzip – a library and program for data compression*The GNU toolchain for software development:**GNU Binutils – assembler, linker, and related tools**GNU build system – Automake, Autoconf, Libtool**GNU Compiler CollectionGCC – optimizing compiler for many programming languages, including C programming languageC, C plus plusC++, Fortran, Ada programming languageAda, and Java programming languageJava**GNU DebuggerGDB – debugger*GNU MDK – a development kit for programming in MIX*GNU ScreenScreen – a terminal multiplexer*Texinfo – documentation system for producing online and printed manuals*wgetGNU wget – advanced file retrieval from networks and the Internet*GNUnet – decentralized, peer-to-peer communication network designed to be resistant to censorship*DotGNU – replacement for Microsoft .NET.NET*GNU Hurd – a microkernel-based set of servers that perform the same function as a Unix kernelApplication software*GIMP – GNU Image Manipulation Program*GLPK – package intended to solve linear programming (LP), mixed integer programming (MIP), and other related problems.*GNU Multi-Precision LibraryGMP – arbitrary precision numerical calculation programming Library (computer science)library*GNOME – graphical desktop environment*GNU LilyPond – a sheet music engraving program*GNU Octave – a program for numerical computations similar to MATLAB*GNU Privacy GuardGNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG) – a free encryption tool which can replace PGP*GNU Robots – small but addictive game for computer programmers*GSL – the GNU Scientific Library*GNUstep – implementation of the OpenStep standard for a set of libraries and development tools for graphical applications*Guile – embeddable Scheme programming languageScheme interpreterThe GNU project also distributes and assists with the development of other packages which originated elsewhere, e.g.:DDD – graphical frontend for debuggersECoseCos – small operating system for embedded devicesConcurrent Versions SystemCVS – source code controlAs of January 2004, there are a total of 260 GNU packages hosted on the GNU hosting site savanah.gnu.org. Others are hosted elsewhere.
Notes - The correct pronunciation of GNU is ''g'noo'' (International Phonetic Alphabet for EnglishIPA: IPA/gnu/ ), with a hard "g", to distinguish it from the word ''new''. According to Stallman, the name was inspired by various plays on words, including the song I'm a gnu.
See also - CommonsGNU Free Software FoundationFree software movementFree contentOpen standardsCopyleftGNU Free Documentation LicenseList of GNU packages
Distributions of GNU - Bee GNU/Hurd bee.es.gnu.org Debian GNU/Hurd debian.org Unofficial Gentoo/Hurd Project hurd.rustedhalo.net superunprivileged.org - Superunprivileged.org hosts a LiveCD of GNU Gnuppix - which uses GNU Hurd running on the L4 microkernel.
External links - gnu.org - The official GNU websitelists.gnu.org - gnu-system-discuss mailing list, technical discussion about the GNU systemgnu.org - Stallman's 1983 announcement of the GNU projectgnu.org - Stallman gives a lengthy personal account of the project and its historygnu.org - ''The Free Universal Encyclopedia and Learning Resource'', Stallman's essay concerning a GNU encyclopediaunxutils.sourceforge.net - Ports of GNU utilities for Microsoft Windowssavannah.gnu.org - Savannah: the GNU project's www portal to its CVS repository - a substitute for Sourceforgelinuxtoday.com - 15 Years of Free Software Richard Stallman on the 15th Birthday of GNU gnu.org - The Free Software Community After 20 Years: With great but incomplete success, what now?hurd.gnufans.org - The HURD Wikipeople.debian.org - FOSDEM 2005 Hurd Developers' Mini-SymposiumCategory:GNU !projectCategory:UnixCategory:A cronymsCategory:Free? software operating !systemsaf:GNUar:GNUbg:ГНУbs :GNUca:GNUcs:GNUda:GNUde:GNU-P rojektet:GNUes:GNUeo:GNUeu:GNU fa:گنوfr:GNUgl:GNUko:GNUhr: GNUid:GNUia:Gnuis:GNUit:GNUhe: גנו? (מערכת !הפעלה)ku:GNUhu:GNUmk:ГН Уms:GNUnl:GNUja:GNUno:GNU? !(prosjekt)nn:GNUpl:GNUpt:Proje cto? !GNUro:GNUru:GNUsq:GNUsimple:GN Usl:GNUsr:ГНУfi:GNUsv:GNUtl :GNUth:กนูvi:Dự? án GNUtr:GNUuk:GNUzh:GNU
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Websites
InforTech United - Informática e Tecnologia
Portal de Noticias e Análises de tudo o que é Informática e Novas Tecnologias. Uma nova geração de serviços começa com o InforTech United e os seus projectos!. O Futuro Começa AQUI!!!
http://www.infortech.eu/
freesoft technologies ltd
freesoft is a professional software-solutions provider that distinguishes itself by solid experience and world-class quality. Our ultimate goal is helping our clients succeed, providing them a safe ride in today's bumpy software services road. freesoft is a permier software-solutions provider in the Arab world, providing consultation, customization, development, deployment, support, and training . We specialize in open source / Free software and GNU/Linux based systems, maximizing our value proposition by providing services on top of a free, and powerful software.
http://www.freesoft.jo/
linuxuse.de
Website from Berlin/Germany, that is dedicated to help users to deploy free software on workstation and desktop.
http://www.linuxuse.de/
YAFPC, the freeware PDF Composer Printer Mailer
YAFPC (Yet Another Free PDF-composer) can compose PDF documents from picture files and other PDF files, encrypt the created document and send it to some e-mail address. YAFPC is aimed to act as command-line tool in combination with GhostScript for providing a network shared PDF-printer, which automatically adds letterheads, company-logos, watermark and Terms & Condition-pages to the printed documents, and then mails the document to the user, who initiated the print job.
http://www.yafpc.net/
GNU Project: Free Software Foundation: FSF
Official list of GNU Free software.
http://www.gnu.org/
Scientific American
Monthly magazine of science. Website includes articles from past issues.
http://www.sciam.com/
Debian GNU/Linux
Official site. One of the most important distributions, uses only Free Software as defined by FSF. Descriptions (Social Contract, partners, donations), news, sources, packages, documents, support, developer corner.
http://www.debian.org/
Linux.org
Comprehensive information and resources about the Linux Operating System.
http://www.linux.org/
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