Editing GNU Project (section)

== GNU/Linux ==

A stable version (or variant) of GNU can be run by combining the GNU packages with the [[Linux kernel]], making a functional [[Unix-like]] system. The GNU Project calls this GNU/Linux, and the defining features are the combination of:

* GNU packages<ref name=gnu_packages>{{cite web
 | url = https://www.gnu.org/software/software.html#allgnupkgs
 | title = All GNU packages
 | work = gnu.org
 | access-date = 2014-04-18
 | archive-date = 2015-12-25
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151225191933/http://www.gnu.org/software/software.html#allgnupkgs
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref><ref name=gnu_packages_fsf>[http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/GNU GNU @ Free Software Directory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205084519/http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/GNU |date=2015-12-05 }} (fsf.org)</ref> (except for GNU Hurd) <br />The GNU packages consist of numerous operating system tools and utilities ([[Bash (Unix shell)|shell]], [[GNU Core Utilities|coreutils]], compilers, libraries, etc.)<ref name=gnu_packages /><ref name=gnu_packages_fsf /> including a library implementation of all of the functions specified in [[POSIX]] System Application Program Interface (POSIX.1).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/software/libc/manual/html_node/POSIX.html |title=POSIX – The GNU C Library |access-date=2014-04-18 |archive-date=2014-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424011018/http://www.gnu.org/software/libc/manual/html_node/POSIX.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[[GNU C Library#A temporary fork]]</ref> The GCC compiler can generate machine-code for a large variety of computer-architectures.<ref>[[GNU Compiler Collection#Architectures|GCC Architectures]]</ref>
* [[Linux kernel]] – this implements program scheduling, multitasking, device drivers, memory management, etc. and allows the system to run on a large [[List of Linux-supported computer architectures|variety of computer-architectures]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kernel.org/#whatislinux |title=The Linux Kernel Archives |access-date=2016-07-25 |archive-date=2011-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221140221/http://www.kernel.org/#whatislinux |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Linus Torvalds]] released the [[Linux kernel]] under the [[GNU General Public License]] in 1992;<ref name=linux_free>{{Cite web |url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/linux/historical/kernel/old-versions/RELNOTES-0.12 |title=Release Notes for Linux v0.12 |access-date=2012-12-24 |archive-date=2013-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526191714/http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/linux/historical/kernel/old-versions/RELNOTES-0.12 |url-status=live }}</ref> it is however not part of the GNU Project.<ref>[https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#allgpled Should the GNU/name convention be applied to all programs that are GPL'ed?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907132420/http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#allgpled |date=2013-09-07 }} GNU/Linux FAQ by Richard Stallman</ref><ref>[https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#whyslash Why do you write “GNU/Linux” instead of “GNU Linux”?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907132420/http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#whyslash |date=2013-09-07 }} GNU/Linux FAQ by Richard Stallman</ref><ref>[https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#claimlinux Isn't it wrong for us to label Linus Torvalds' work as GNU?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907132420/http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#claimlinux |date=2013-09-07 }} GNU/Linux FAQ by Richard Stallman</ref><ref>[https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#linusagreed Does Linus Torvalds agree that Linux is just the kernel?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907132420/http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#linusagreed |date=2013-09-07 }} GNU/Linux FAQ by Richard Stallman</ref>
* non-GNU programs – various free software packages which are not a part of the GNU Project but are released under the [[GNU General Public License]] or another [[Free software license#FSF-approved .22free software.22 licenses|FSF-approved Free Software License]].

Within the GNU website, a list of projects is laid out and each project has specifics for what type of developer is able to perform the task needed for a certain piece of the GNU Project. The skill level ranges from project to project but anyone with background knowledge in programming is encouraged to support the project.

The packaging of GNU tools, together with the Linux kernel and other programs, is usually called a [[Linux distribution]] (distro). The GNU Project calls the combination of GNU and the Linux kernel "GNU/Linux", and asks others to do the same,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#why |title=Why do you call it GNU/Linux and not Linux? |access-date=2014-04-18 |archive-date=2013-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907132420/http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#why |url-status=live }}</ref> resulting in the [[GNU/Linux naming controversy]].

Most Linux distros combine GNU packages with a Linux kernel which contains proprietary [[binary blobs]].<ref name=":0" />

=== GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines ===
{{Anchor|Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG)|GNU FSDG|FSDG}}
The GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG) is a system distribution commitment that explains how an installable system distribution (such as a Linux distribution) qualifies as free (libre), and helps distribution developers make their distributions qualify.

The list mostly describes distributions that are a combination of GNU packages with a [[Linux-libre]] kernel (a modified Linux kernel that removes binary blobs, obfuscated code, and portions of code under proprietary licenses) and consist only of free software (eschewing proprietary software entirely).<ref>{{cite web 
 | url = https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html 
 | title = Guidelines for Free System Distributions 
 | work = gnu.org 
 | access-date = 2014-04-17 
 | archive-date = 2015-12-08 
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208205726/https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html 
 | url-status = live 
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Avoiding Ruinous Compromises |url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/compromise.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622094238/http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/compromise.html |archive-date=2018-06-22 |access-date=2016-07-22 |work=www.gnu.org}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems |url=https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |work=GNU |access-date=2016-07-22 |archive-date=2011-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424061731/http://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Distributions that have adopted the GNU FSDG include [[Dragora GNU/Linux-Libre]], [[GNU Guix System]], [[Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre]], [[Parabola GNU/Linux-libre]], [[Trisquel GNU/Linux]], [[PureOS]], and a few others.<ref name="gnu">{{cite web
 | url = https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html
 | title = List of Free GNU/Linux Distributions – GNU Project – Free Software Foundation
 | work = gnu.org
 | access-date = 2014-08-18
 | archive-date = 2014-12-16
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141216063244/http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref>

The Fedora Project's distribution license guidelines were used as a basis for the FSDG.<ref>{{cite web
 | url = https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html
 | title = Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG) – GNU Project
 | publisher = publisher
 | work = gnu.org
 | access-date = 2014-06-07
 | quote = We would like to thank the Fedora Project for their help in focusing these policies, and allowing us to use their own distribution license guidelines as a basis for this document.
 | archive-date = 2015-12-08
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208205726/https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref> The Fedora Project's own guidelines, however, currently do not follow the FSDG, and thus the GNU Project does not consider [[Fedora Linux|Fedora]] to be a fully free (libre) GNU/Linux distribution.<ref name=":0" />