← Back to Topics

GNU Project Debate

Discussions center on the GNU project's identity, relevance, criticisms, and controversies, frequently referencing its 'GNU's Not Unix' acronym, core tools, and statements from maintainers like those from Guix.

📉 Falling 0.4x Open Source
3,016
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#3620
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
1
2008
15
2009
27
2010
75
2011
113
2012
101
2013
138
2014
126
2015
170
2016
242
2017
190
2018
153
2019
223
2020
166
2021
273
2022
244
2023
315
2024
199
2025
232
2026
13

Top Contributors

pjmlp (32) yjftsjthsd-h (26) davexunit (22) jordigh (22) rekado (20)

Keywords

AFAIK SDP QNX IBM guix.gnu GPL BlackBerry RMS thegnuproject.html OS gnu unix gnu linux gpl gcc linux software rms project herd

Sample Comments

bmacho • Apr 27, 2023 • View on HN

It's GNU, and they haven't changed.

nitrogen • Jul 3, 2015 • View on HN

That's probably a GNU thing. GNU's Not Unix, after all.

Retric • Feb 25, 2011 • View on HN

Are you sure being GNU matters for such users?

cycloptic • Apr 2, 2020 • View on HN

The takeaway from the article is that GNU is a marketing term. There are some more modern tools like Guix that the developers have chosen to make part of GNU. I'm sure GNU would welcome a newer kernel or GUI stack if the authors of those projects wanted to carry the banner.

jacobroyquebec • May 5, 2017 • View on HN

What's so wrong about GNU?

bayindirh • Dec 6, 2021 • View on HN

Is getting rid of GNU that important?

throw080700 • Mar 22, 2021 • View on HN

Yeah. Here's some from GNU on RMS:https://guix.gnu.org/blog/2019/joint-statement-on-the-gnu-pr...

silentbicycle • Apr 6, 2011 • View on HN

Why would it? GNU's not Unix, after all.

cperciva • Jun 9, 2016 • View on HN

Maybe because GNU's, uhh, Not Unix?

frosted-flakes • Jan 10, 2022 • View on HN

Why not? It's very common. Better than GNU.