GNUProjekt

GNUProjekt, commonly known as the GNU Project, is a free software initiative started in 1983 by Richard M. Stallman with the aim of creating a complete, Unix-like operating system made entirely of free software. The name GNU is a recursive acronym meaning "GNU's Not Unix." The project was intended to ensure users have four essential freedoms: to run, study, modify, and share software.

History: Responding to proprietary software, the project sought to develop a free replacement for Unix programs. The Free Software Foundation (FSF) was founded in 1985 to support the project and coordinate licensing and development.

Licensing: GNU software is released under copyleft licenses, primarily the GNU General Public License (GPL), which requires that redistributed derivatives also be licensed under the GPL.

Software and components: The GNU Project develops a wide array of software, including compilers such as GCC, libraries like glibc, core utilities (GNU coreutils), shells (bash), and build tools (make). These components together form a complete operating system when paired with a kernel.

Relation to Linux: Historically, many refer to the combined system as "GNU/Linux," recognizing that the kernel alone is Linux, while the userland comes from GNU. The project continues to maintain and expand its userland, and it has also contributed to alternative kernels such as GNU Hurd.

Governance and impact: The GNU Project is coordinated by the Free Software Foundation and a global community of volunteers. It has had a lasting influence on software licensing, distribution, and the open-source movement.