GCompris
Encyclopedia
GCompris is a suite of free
educational software for children aged 2 to 10., and is currently part of the GNU project
.
It is available for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X
and other systems. Binaries compiled for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X are distributed as crippleware
with a restricted number of activities; it is possible to access all the activities in Windows and Mac OS X for a fee.
. The motivation behind the development was to provide native educational application for Linux. Since then, the software has seen continuous improvements, in terms of graphics and number of activities, thanks to the help of many developers and graphic artists joining the project over the years.
The name GCompris is a French pun. In that language it is pronounced the same as the phrase "I have understood", J'ai compris ʒekɔ̃ˈpʁi.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
educational software for children aged 2 to 10., and is currently part of the GNU project
GNU Project
The GNU Project is a free software, mass collaboration project, announced on September 27, 1983, by Richard Stallman at MIT. It initiated GNU operating system development in January, 1984...
.
It is available for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and other systems. Binaries compiled for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X are distributed as crippleware
Crippleware
In economics, a damaged good is a good that has been deliberately limited in performance, quality or utility, typically for marketing reasons as part of a strategy of product differentiation.-Computer software:Deliberately limited programs are usually freeware versions of computer programs that...
with a restricted number of activities; it is possible to access all the activities in Windows and Mac OS X for a fee.
Features
GCompris has more than 100 activities related to:- Computer discovery: keyboard, mouse, different mouse gestures
- Numeracy: table memory, enumeration, double entry table, mirror images
- Science: the canal lock, the water cycle, the submarine, electric simulations
- Geography: place the country on the map
- Games: chess, memory, connect 4, oware, sudoku
- Reading: reading practice
- Other: learn to tell time, puzzle of famous paintings, vector drawing, cartoon making
Development history
The first version of the game was made in 2000 by Bruno Coudoin, a French software engineer. Since the first release it was distributed freely on the Internet and was protected by the GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
. The motivation behind the development was to provide native educational application for Linux. Since then, the software has seen continuous improvements, in terms of graphics and number of activities, thanks to the help of many developers and graphic artists joining the project over the years.
The name GCompris is a French pun. In that language it is pronounced the same as the phrase "I have understood", J'ai compris ʒekɔ̃ˈpʁi.