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What did Richard Stallman mean when he stated GNU was a free operating system?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
In the free software world, there are several uses of the word "free." The two main ones are "free as in speech" and "free as in beer." Free as in speech means you are relatively unfettered in what you can do with the software. You can modify it, use it for whatever you want, and give it to others (or even sell it). Free as in beer means that you can obtain it for no monetary cost.
Richard Stallman originally envisioned GNU to be free as in speech. At the time he started the project (in 1983), internet access was slow and expensive, high-capacity storage devices weren't readily available, and very few people had a personal computer. It would have been infeasible to offer GNU on a gratis basis. Stallman actually used to charge $150 for a tape with the GNU software on it, plus $15 for a manual.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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What did Richard stallman mean when he stated that GNU was a free operating system?
As most people will tell you about software licensing, the definition of "free" in this case is freedom from licensing restrictions, not as in free-of-charge (in which is derived from the original definition ["...not as in free beer..."] to make it more all-ages friendly).
Who is are the father of open-source OS?
Open source operating systems can trace their ancestry to many trends in computing of the 60s and 70s. If one had to put a face on the concept, it would be Richard Stallman. Stallman formed the Free Software foundation, and developed or commissioned many of the necessary components of a free and open-source operating system. Note that Stallman doesn't like the term "open-source", since the source can be available but still restricted in what you are allowed to do with it.
Are GNU Linux both open source operating systems?
Richard Stallman intended GNU to be a full-fledged operating system, but without a kernel, he couldn't do it. At least until he discovered Linus Torvalds' Linux kernel, thus the GNU/Linux (or GNU+Linux) operating system was born.As far as open-source projects are involved, both are open-source projects. And you don't have to only use the Linux kernel with GNU, as there's the GNU/Hurd project, and then the ever-popular Android (runs on a modified Linux kernel, the remaining are developed by Google)
What has the author Richard E Phillips written?
Richard E. Phillips has written: 'USGS Mineralogy Laboratory user's guide to the TECO editing program for the DEC RT-11 operating system' -- subject(s): Operating systems (Computers)
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What is the relationship between a guest operating system and a host operating system in a system like VMware?
It is both operating system....
What is the relationship between a guest operating system and host operating system in a system like VMWare?
It is both operating system....
