GNUs

GNUs refers to the GNU Project, a free software initiative begun in 1983 by Richard Stallman to develop a complete Unix-like operating system composed entirely of free software. The project aims to provide users with control over computing by promoting software freedom and copyleft licensing.

The GNU Project develops a broad range of software components that are widely used beyond the operating system, including compilers, libraries, and utilities. Notable components include the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC), the GNU C Library (glibc), the GNU Core Utilities, Bash, Emacs, and GDB. The kernel intended for GNU is the GNU Hurd, but it has not become the standard kernel for GNU systems; in practice, most GNU-based systems pair GNU software with the Linux kernel to form a functional OS often called GNU/Linux.

Licensing and philosophy: The project uses copyleft licenses, primarily the GNU General Public License (GPL), to ensure users' freedom to run, study, modify, and share software. The Free Software Foundation (FSF) coordinates the project and advocates for software freedom and user rights.

Impact and status: GNU software is foundational in many operating systems, development environments, and server infrastructures. The GNU/Linux synergy has significantly influenced licensing norms and the open-source movement. The terminology and branding around GNU and Linux remain topics of discussion among advocates and practitioners.