Editing GNU Manifesto (section)

==Summary==
The ''GNU Manifesto'' opens with an explanation of what the GNU Project is, and what is the current, at the time, progress in creation of the [[GNU|GNU operating system]]. The system, although based on, and compatible with Unix, is meant by the author to have many improvements over it, which are listed in detail in the manifesto.

One of the major driving points behind the GNU project, according to Stallman, was the rapid (at the time) trend toward Unix and its various components becoming proprietary (i.e. closed-source and non-libre) software.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.i-programmer.info/news/82-heritage/8403-gnu-manifesto-published-thirty-years-ago.html|title=GNU Manifesto Published Thirty Years Ago|last=Armstrong|first=Alex|date=2015-03-25|work=I Programmer|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref>

The manifesto lays a philosophical basis for launching the project, and importance of bringing it to fruition — [[proprietary software]] is a way to divide users, who are no longer able to help each other. Stallman refuses to write proprietary software as a sign of solidarity with them.

The author provides many reasons for why the project and software freedom is beneficial to users, although he agrees that its wide adoption will make the work of programmers less profitable.

A large part of the ''GNU Manifesto'' is focused on rebutting possible objections to GNU Project's goals. They include the programmer's need to make a living, the issue of advertising and distributing free software, and the perceived need of a profit incentive.