- What means "GNU"?
-
- Thanks, moliate pal! - Yep, I think you are right and smart. You must be a fan of UNIX. - Well, another question arises in my head. I do not know why they do not use the UNIX kernel and write a new version of their own. Why not just implement the binaries of UNIX and use the UNIX kernel? It is a nice kernel, isn't it? - Can you help? - Have a nice weekend, Maer
The keyword is "Free software" (guess that is two words). In Swedish there are two different words: "gratis", meaning "free of cost" and "fri", meaning free in the liberty sense. GNU software use both definitions. That means you can do all the things below: (From the GNU hompage)
- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
- The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
There is a whole family of UNIX-like OS:es and kernels, like BSD, freeBSD, Linux, AIX, XENIX, HP-UX, SCO, Solaris.... Most of them are not "Free" in any definition and does not make the source available. GNU did not write any kernel, but provide a lot of functionality that make up the OS, like the most common shellcommands (Fileutils). Stallman himself is an idealist and don't use any "Non-Free" software. > - Yep, I think you are right and smart. You must be a fan of UNIX. Thanks :-D. I am a Windows programmer, like most of us in here, but I have done some occational Linux programming (and some on "non-free" Solaris).
-
The keyword is "Free software" (guess that is two words). In Swedish there are two different words: "gratis", meaning "free of cost" and "fri", meaning free in the liberty sense. GNU software use both definitions. That means you can do all the things below: (From the GNU hompage)
- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
- The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
There is a whole family of UNIX-like OS:es and kernels, like BSD, freeBSD, Linux, AIX, XENIX, HP-UX, SCO, Solaris.... Most of them are not "Free" in any definition and does not make the source available. GNU did not write any kernel, but provide a lot of functionality that make up the OS, like the most common shellcommands (Fileutils). Stallman himself is an idealist and don't use any "Non-Free" software. > - Yep, I think you are right and smart. You must be a fan of UNIX. Thanks :-D. I am a Windows programmer, like most of us in here, but I have done some occational Linux programming (and some on "non-free" Solaris).
-
- Thanks pal! - Your reply helps a lot. I still have a question. - What means "es" in your reply? (" ... es and kernels ... " ) - Can you help me, a newbie? - Have a nice weekend, Maer
