Richard Stallman

Evolution of the GNU Project

This timeline tracks the evolution of the GNU project from its inception to the present day.

Project Announcement

September 27, 1983

Richard Stallman announces the GNU project, aiming to create a complete Unix-like operating system composed entirely of free software.

Early Software Development

Mid-1980s

Initial development focuses on essential components like Emacs, GCC (GNU Compiler Collection), and GDB (GNU Debugger).

Collaboration with the Linux Kernel

Early 1990s

The GNU system is combined with the Linux kernel (created by Linus Torvalds) to form a complete and usable operating system, commonly referred to as GNU/Linux.

Growth and Diversification

Mid-1990s - Present

The GNU project expands to include a wide range of software applications, utilities, and libraries, covering various areas of computing.

Community Contributions

Ongoing

The GNU project relies heavily on contributions from a global community of developers and volunteers who contribute code, documentation, and support.

Ongoing Development and Maintenance

Ongoing

The GNU project continues to evolve and adapt to new technologies and challenges, with ongoing development and maintenance of its core components and new software projects.