What Does GNU Project Mean?
The GNU Project refers to the collaborative development of the GNU OS. Designed as a free Unix alternative, the GNU Project was launched by Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation (FSF), in January 1984. The recursive GNU acronym represents the phrase “GNU’s Not Unix.” In the GNU Project context, free software refers to liberty (versus price). It is defined as the freedom to use, copy, distribute, study, modify and enhance software. Free software should not be confused with open source software, which is a separate movement. As of 2011, the GNU Project continues its work on software development, awareness, political campaigning and sharing of new material.
Techopedia Explains GNU Project
Stallman announced the GNU Project in September 1983 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus. Originally scripted to garner participation, Stallman’s GNU Manifesto encourages supporters to donate financial resources, personal time and PC components to GNU Project development. According to Stallman, free software is described as follows:
