Richard Stallman announced in September 1983 the plan to develop a free software Unix-like operating system called GNU. GNU is the only operating system developed specifically for the sake of users' freedom.
GNU 是什么？
The GNU Project was launched in 1984 to develop a complete Unix-like operating system which is free software: the GNU operating system.
Unix-like operating systems are built from a collection of libraries, applications and developer tools, plus a kernel to allocate resources and talk to the hardware — Hurd, GNU's kernel is actively developed, but is still some way from being ready for daily use, so GNU is often used with the kernel Linux.
The combination of GNU and Linux is the GNU/Linux operating system, now used by millions.
Sometimes this combination is incorrectly called Linux. There are many variants or “distributions” of GNU/Linux.
We recommend the GNU/Linux distributions that are 100% free software; in other words, entirely freedom-respecting.
The name “GNU” is a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not Unix!”; it is pronounced g-noo, as one syllable with no vowel sound between the g and the n.
自由软件是什么？
“自由软件”是权利问题，不是价格问题。要理解这个概念，你应该想是“言论自由”中的“自由”，而不是“免费啤酒”中的“免费”。
Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:
- 不论目的为何，有运行该软件的自由（自由之零）。
- 有研究该软件如何运行，以及按需改写该软件的自由（自由之一）。取得该软件源代码为达成此目的之前提。
- 有重新发布拷贝的自由，这样你可以借此来敦亲睦邻（自由之二）。
- 有改进该软件，以及向公众发布改进的自由，这样整个社群都可受惠（自由之三）。取得该软件源码为达成此目的之前提。
自由软件基金会是什么？
自由软件基金会（FSF）是 GNU 项目的主要赞助组织。FSF 从公司或作出转让的基金会处收到很少的资金，我们依赖来像您这样的个人的支持。
Please consider helping the FSF by becoming an associate member, buying manuals and gear or by donating money. If you use Free Software in your business, you can also consider corporate patronage as a way to support the FSF.
The GNU project supports the mission of the FSF to preserve, protect and promote the freedom to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer software, and to defend the rights of Free Software users. We support the freedoms of speech, press, and association on the Internet, the right to use encryption software for private communication, and the right to write software unimpeded by private monopolies. You can also learn more about these issues in the book Free Software, Free Society.
The FSF also has sister organizations in Europe, Latin America and India.
Support GNU!
A strong free software movement focused on the principled issues of software freedom — and a strong FSF in particular — will determine what freedoms the next generation of computer users enjoy. At stake is no less that the next generation's autonomy. — Benjamin Mako Hill, writer, technologist and FSF board member
The FSF's work represents the most important work for freedom that this culture has seen in many generations, because it takes the idea of freedom and it removes it from the ivory tower and places it in a community — Professor Lawrence Lessig
View all the latest appeal videos
GNUstep
GNUstep is a fully-functional object-oriented development environment.
We need developers to write and port applications to GNUstep so that we can make it a great experience for users. See http://www.gnustep.org/ for more information.
Freedom Fry
Mr. Stephen Fry introduces you to free software, and reminds you of a very special birthday.
GNU 快讯
All packages using GNU Automake to produce distribution tarballs with make dist should update to the 1.11.1 or 1.10.3 release, or otherwise work around the problem.
The FSF is hosting a GNU Hackers' Meeting for GNU maintainers and contributors from March 18th-21st as part of the LibrePlanet 2010 conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Read the details and RSVP.
FSF president Richard Stallman explains the unintended interactions between the Swedish Pirate Party's platform and free software -- and proposes a solution -- in his new article, How the Swedish Pirate Party Platform Backfires on Free Software.
想要知道其它的新闻，以及早先在本短讯中出现过的项目，请见在 GNU 工程中或与其有关的 最新消息。
采取行动
- 许可证起草： 参与 GFDL 和 GSFDL 的起草。
- 加入自由软件目录。
- 全球： 呼吁WIPO 改变其名字和任务.
- 对抗软件专利：美国，欧洲。
- 美国公民：签名请愿，反对软件专利和 DMCA。
- High priority projects: Contribute to these
free software projects we are emphasizing:
- Gnash (GNU Flash Player)
- Coreboot (campaign for a free BIOS)
- free replacement for skype
- video editing
- free replacement for Google Earth
- gNewSense (the all free software GNU/Linux system)
- GNU Octave (free software Matlab replacement)
- free replacement for OpenDWG libraries
- reversible debugging in GDB
- free software drivers for mesh routers
- free replacement for Oracle Forms
- GNU PDF.
- 其它行动事项
Get Involved
Whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever your skills and interests are there are many ways you can get involved with the GNU Project:
- General ways you can help
- Specific projects that need help
- Help us translate the gnu.org essays into your native language or become a coordinator of a www.gnu.org translation team.
- Contribute to CD/DVD-recording software development and more in GNU libcdio.
- Take over an unmaintained GNU package: alive, fontutils, gleem, gnatsweb, gnutrition, gtypist, oleo, pgccfd, polyxmass, rpge, vmslib.
- Long-term contribution: Contribute to CD/DVD-recording software development and more in GNU libcdio.
- Long-term contribution: Contribute as a user and developer to GNUstep, a free object-oriented framework for application development.
- Long-term contribution: Help us translate the gnu.org essays into your native language or become a coordinator of a www.gnu.org translation team.
Other GNU resources
更多信息
- 使用者对 GNU 软件的看法
- 我们的项目服务器，savannah.gnu.org
- GNU 邮件列表
- Other areas of the GNU web site: Software documentation, Graphics and art, Fun, ThankGNUs.