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revision 1.1 by fx, Wed Oct 20 10:41:27 1999 UTC revision 1.1.18.1 by miles, Fri Apr 4 06:19:49 2003 UTC
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1                       Linux and the GNU system                       Linux and the GNU system
2    
3  The GNU project started 12 years ago with the goal of developing a  The GNU project started in 1984 with the goal of developing a complete
4  complete free Unix-like operating system.  "Free" refers to freedom,  free Unix-like operating system: GNU.  "Free" refers to freedom, not
5  not price; it means you are free to run, copy, distribute, study,  price; it means you are free to run, copy, distribute, study, change,
6  change, and improve the software.  and improve the software.
7    
8  A Unix-like system consists of many different programs.  We found some  A Unix-like system consists of many different programs.  We found some
9  components already available as free software--for example, X Windows  components already available as free software--for example, X Windows
10  and TeX.  We obtained other components by helping to convince their  and TeX.  We obtained other components by helping to convince their
11  developers to make them free--for example, the Berkeley network  developers to make them free--for example, the Berkeley network
12  utilities.  Other components we wrote specifically for GNU--for  utilities.  This left many missing components that we had to write in
13  example, GNU Emacs, the GNU C compiler, the GNU C library, Bash, and  order to produce GNU--for example, GNU Emacs, the GNU C compiler, the
14  Ghostscript.  The components in this last category are "GNU software".  GNU C library, Bash, and Ghostscript.  The GNU system consists of all
15  The GNU system consists of all three categories together.  these components together.
16    
17  The GNU project is not just about developing and distributing some  The GNU project is not just about developing and distributing some
18  useful free software.  The heart of the GNU project is an idea: that  useful free software.  The heart of the GNU project is an idea: that
19  software should be free, and that the users' freedom is worth  software should be free, that software users should have freedom to
20  defending.  For if people have freedom but do not consciously  participate in a community.  To run your computer, you need an
21  appreciate it, they will not keep it for long.  If we want to make  operating system; if it is not free, your freedom has been denied.  To
22  freedom last, we need to call people's attention to the freedoms they  have freedom, you need a free operating system.  We therefore set out
23  have in free software.  to write one.
24    
25    In the long run, though, we cannot expect to keep the free operating
26    system free unless the users are aware of the freedom it gives them,
27    and value that freedom.  People who do not appreciate their freedom
28    will not keep it long.  If we want to make freedom last, we need to
29    spread awareness of the freedoms they have in free software.
30    
31  The GNU project's method is that free software and the idea of users'  The GNU project's method is that free software and the idea of users'
32  freedom support each other.  We develop GNU software, and as people  freedom support each other.  We develop GNU software, and as people
# Line 31  and then they are more likely to write a Line 37  and then they are more likely to write a
37  Thus, the software embodies the idea, spreads the idea, and grows from  Thus, the software embodies the idea, spreads the idea, and grows from
38  the idea.  the idea.
39    
40  By 1992, we had found or written all of the essential major components  Early on in the development of GNU, various parts of it became popular
41  of the system except the kernel, which we were writing.  (This kernel  even though users needed proprietary systems to run them on.  Porting
42  consists of the Mach microkernel plus the GNU HURD.  Currently it is  the system to many systems and maintaining them required a lot of
43  running but not ready for users.  The first test release was made in  work.  After that work, most GNU software is easily configured for a
44  1996.)  variety of different platforms.
   
 Then the Linux kernel became available.  Linux is a free  
 Unix-compatible kernel initially written by Linus Torvalds.  It was  
 not written for the GNU project, but Linux and the almost-complete GNU  
 system made a useful combination.  This combination provided all the  
 major essential components of a Unix-compatible operating system, and  
 with some work, people made it into a usable system.  It was a variant  
 GNU system, based on the Linux kernel.  
   
 Ironically, the popularity of these systems undermines our method of  
 communicating the GNU idea to people who use GNU.  These systems are  
 mostly the same as the GNU system--the main difference being the  
 choice of kernel.  But people usually call them "Linux systems".  At  
 first impression, a "Linux system" sounds like something completely  
 distinct from the "GNU system," and that is what most users think it  
 is.  
   
 Most introductions to the "Linux system" acknowledge the role played  
 by the GNU software components.  But they don't say that the system as  
 a whole is a modified version of the GNU system that the GNU project  
 has been developing and compiling since 1984.  They don't say that the  
 goal of a free Unix-like system like this one came from the GNU  
 project.  So most users don't know these things.  
45    
46  Since human beings tend to correct their first impressions less than  By 1991, we had found or written all of the essential major components
47  subsequent information calls for, those users who later learn about  of the system except the kernel, which we were writing.  (This kernel
48  the relationship between these systems and the GNU project still often  consists of the Mach microkernel plus the GNU HURD.  The first test
49  underestimate it.  release was made in 1996.  Now, in 2002, it is running well, and
50    Hurd-based GNU systems are starting to be used.)
51    
52    That was the situation when Linux came into being.  Linux is a kernel,
53    like the kernel of Unix; it was written by Linus Torvalds, who
54    released it under the GNU General Public License.  He did not write
55    this kernel for GNU, but it fit into the gap in GNU.  The combination
56    of GNU and Linux included all the major essential components of a
57    Unix-compatible operating system.  Other people, with some work made
58    the combination into a usable system.  The principal use of Linux, the
59    kernel, is as part of this combination.
60    
61    The popularity of the GNU/Linux combination is success, in the sense
62    of popularity, for GNU.  Ironically, the popularity of GNU/Linux
63    undermines our method of communicating the ideas of GNU to people who
64    use GNU.
65    
66    When GNU programs were only usable individually on top of another
67    operating system, installing and using them meant knowing and
68    appreciating these programs, and thus being aware of GNU, which led
69    people to think about the philosophical base of GNU.  Now users can
70    install a unified operating system which is basically GNU, but they
71    usually think these are "Linux systems".  At first impression, a
72    "Linux system" sounds like something completely distinct from the "GNU
73    system," and that is what most users think.
74    
75  This leads many users to identify themselves as a separate community  This leads many users to identify themselves as a separate community
76  of "Linux users", distinct from the GNU user community.  They use all  of "Linux users", distinct from the GNU user community.  They use more
77  of the GNU software; in fact, they use almost all of the GNU system;  than just some GNU programs, they use almost all of the GNU system,
78  but they don't think of themselves as GNU users, and often they don't  but they don't think of themselves as GNU users.  Often they never
79  think that the GNU idea relates to them.  hear about the GNU idea; if they do, they may not think it relates to
80    them.
81  It leads to other problems as well--even hampering cooperation on  
82  software maintenance.  Normally when users change a GNU program to  Most introductions to the "Linux system" acknowledge that GNU software
83  make it work better on a particular system, they send the change to  components play a role in it, but they don't say that the system as a
84  the maintainer of that program; then they work with the maintainer,  whole is a modified version of the GNU system that the GNU project has
85  explaining the change, arguing for it, and sometimes rewriting it for  been developing and compiling since Linus Torvalds was in junior high
86  the sake of the overall coherence and maintainability of the package,  school.  They don't say that the main reason this free operating
87  to get the patch installed.  exists is that the GNU Project worked persistently to achieve its goal
88    of freedom.
89  But people who think of themselves as "Linux users" are more likely to  
90  release a forked "Linux-only" version of the GNU program, and consider  As a result, most users don't know these things.  They believe that
91  the job done.  We want each and every GNU program to work "out of the  the "Linux system" was developed by Linus Torvalds "just for fun", and
92  box" on Linux-based systems; but if the users do not help, that goal  that their freedom is a matter of good fortune rather than the
93  becomes much harder to achieve.  dedicated pursuit of freedom.  This creates a danger that they will
94    leave the survival of free software to fortune as well.
95    
96  How should the GNU project deal with this problem?  What should we do  Since human beings tend to correct their first impressions less than
97  now to spread the idea that freedom for computer users is important?  called for by additional information they learn later, these users
98    will tend to continue to underestimate their connection to GNU even if
99    they do learn the facts.
100    
101    When we began trying to support the GNU/Linux system, we found this
102    widespread misinformation led to a practical problem--it hampered
103    cooperation on software maintenance.  Normally when users change a GNU
104    program to make it work better on a particular system, they send the
105    change to the maintainer of that program; then they work with the
106    maintainer, explaining the change, arguing for it, and sometimes
107    rewriting it for the sake of the overall coherence and maintainability
108    of the package, to get the patch installed.  But people who thought of
109    themselves as "Linux users" showed a tendency to release a forked
110    "Linux-only" version of the GNU program and consider the job done.  In
111    some cases we had to redo their work in order to make GNU programs run
112    as released in GNU/Linux systems.
113    
114    How should the GNU project encourage its users to cooperate?  How
115    should we spread the idea that freedom for computer users is
116    important?
117    
118  We should continue to talk about the freedom to share and change  We must continue to talk about the freedom to share and change
119  software--and to teach other users to value these freedoms.  If we  software--and to teach other users to value these freedoms.  If we
120  enjoy having a free operating system, it makes sense for us to think  value having a free operating system, it makes sense to think about
121  about preserving those freedoms for the long term.  If we enjoy having  preserving those freedoms for the long term.  If we value having a
122  a variety of free software, it makes sense for to think about  variety of free software, it makes sense to think about encouraging
123  encouraging others to write additional free software, instead of  others to write free software, instead of proprietary software.
124  additional proprietary software.  
125    However, it is not enough just to talk about freedom; we must also
126  We should not accept the idea of two separate communities for GNU and  make sure people know the reasons it is worth listening to what we
127  Linux.  Instead we should spread understanding that "Linux systems"  say.
128  are variants of the GNU system, and that the users of these systems  
129  are GNU users as well as Linux users (users of the Linux kernel).  Long explanations such as our philosophical articles are one way of
130  Users who know this will naturally tend to take a look at the GNU  informing the public, but you may not want to spend so much time on
131  philosophy which brought these systems into existence.  the matter.  The most effective way you can help with a small amount
132    of work is simply by using the terms "Linux-based GNU system" or
133  I've written this article as one way of doing that.  Another way is to  "GNU/Linux system", instead of "Linux system," when you write about or
134  use the terms "Linux-based GNU system" or "GNU/Linux system", instead  mention such a system.  Seeing these terms will show many people the
135  of "Linux system," when you write about or mention such a system.  reason to pay attention to our philosophical articles.
136    
137    The system as a whole is more GNU than Linux; the name "GNU/Linux" is
138    fair.  When you are choosing the name of a distribution or a user
139    group, a name with "GNU/Linux" will reflect both roots of the combined
140    system, and will bring users into connection with both--including the
141    spirit of freedom and community that is the basis and purpose of GNU.
142    
143    
144  Copyright 1996 Richard Stallman  Copyright 1996, 2002 Richard Stallman
145  Verbatim copying and redistribution is permitted  Verbatim copying and redistribution is permitted
146  without royalty as long as this notice is preserved.  without royalty as long as this notice is preserved.
147    

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