GNewSense
Encyclopedia
gNewSense is a Linux distribution
based on Ubuntu
. Its goal is to maintain the user-friendliness of Ubuntu, but with all non FSF approved
software and binary blob
s removed. The Free Software Foundation
considers gNewSense to be a Linux distribution
composed entirely of free software
.
gNewSense takes a relatively strict stance against proprietary software. For example, any documentation that gives instructions on installing proprietary software software is excluded. gNewSense is the operating system used by Richard Stallman
(founder and president of the Free Software Foundation
) as of January 2010.
The project was launched by Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley in 2006. Since the 1.0 release, the Free Software Foundation assists gNewSense.
With no releases in two years, as of August 8, 2011, Distrowatch
changed the status of gNewSense to "dormant".
, the official desktop environment
of the GNU Project
. The graphical user interface
can be customized with the user's choice X display manager
, window managers, and other desktop environments available to install through its hosted repositories.
The Ubiquity installer allows installing to the hard disk from within the Live CD
environment without the need for restarting the computer prior to installation.
Besides standard system tools and other small applications, gNewSense comes installed with the following software: the OpenOffice.org
productivity suite, the Epiphany Internet browser, the Pidgin
instant messenger, and the GIMP
for editing photos and other raster graphics
. Common software development
tools including GCC
and the GNU Emacs text editor
are installed by default.
can be used to run the Operating System and to install onto disk. CD images are available for download.
instead of Ubuntu.
are not provided by the gNewSense project, most non-free documentation and artwork have been removed and Ubuntu's "Universe" package repository is enabled by default. In order to avoid trademark
problems that stem from the modification of Mozilla Firefox
, gNewSense 1.1 rebranded it as "BurningDog". BurningDog likewise neither suggests nor provides/supports non-free plugins for various web media, such as Adobe Flash
. gNewSense 2.0 uses the Epiphany web browser as released by the GNOME
Project, with an option in software sources to install GNU IceCat
.
Debian
is another GNU/Linux distribution noted for strict licensing requirements. gNewSense excludes non-free software that Debian includes (such as proprietary firmware
) and does not have repositories for non-free software (which Debian has). It should be noted, however, that gNewSense's policies allow including documentation that the Debian project considers non-free, particularly that licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License
with invariant sections. This includes many manuals released by the GNU project
themselves, which contain a lengthy manifesto promoting software freedom as an invariant section.
were removed from the Ubuntu Linux kernel
to make gNewSense. Such removals include support for some wireless network
cards, and therefore gNewSense currently supports a reduced range of wireless network cards compared to some other GNU/Linux distributions. By May 1, 2008, 3D graphics and application support were also removed because of licensing issues with Mesa 3D. After January 13, 2009, those issues were resolved and 3D support is now standard as of the 2.2 release.
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
based on Ubuntu
Ubuntu (operating system)
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
. Its goal is to maintain the user-friendliness of Ubuntu, but with all non FSF approved
Proprietary software
Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
software and binary blob
Binary blob
In the free software community, binary blob is a pejorative term for an object file loaded into the kernel of a open source operating system without publicly available source code...
s removed. The Free Software Foundation
Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software...
considers gNewSense to be a Linux distribution
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
composed entirely of free software
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...
.
gNewSense takes a relatively strict stance against proprietary software. For example, any documentation that gives instructions on installing proprietary software software is excluded. gNewSense is the operating system used by Richard Stallman
Richard Stallman
Richard Matthew Stallman , often shortened to rms,"'Richard Stallman' is just my mundane name; you can call me 'rms'"|last= Stallman|first= Richard|date= N.D.|work=Richard Stallman's homepage...
(founder and president of the Free Software Foundation
Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software...
) as of January 2010.
The project was launched by Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley in 2006. Since the 1.0 release, the Free Software Foundation assists gNewSense.
With no releases in two years, as of August 8, 2011, Distrowatch
DistroWatch
DistroWatch is a website which provides news, popularity rankings, and other general information about various Linux distributions as well as other free software/open source Unix-like operating systems such as OpenSolaris, MINIX and BSD. It now contains information on several hundred distributions...
changed the status of gNewSense to "dormant".
Technical aspects
By default gNewSense uses GNOMEGNOME
GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...
, the official desktop environment
Desktop environment
In graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed...
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...
. The graphical user interface
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
can be customized with the user's choice X display manager
X display manager
In the X Window System, an X display manager runs as a program that allows the starting of a session on an X server from the same or another computer.A display manager presents the user with a login screen which prompts for a username and password...
, window managers, and other desktop environments available to install through its hosted repositories.
The Ubiquity installer allows installing to the hard disk from within the Live CD
Live CD
A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...
environment without the need for restarting the computer prior to installation.
Besides standard system tools and other small applications, gNewSense comes installed with the following software: the OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org, commonly known as OOo or OpenOffice, is an open-source application suite whose main components are for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. OpenOffice is available for a number of different computer operating systems, is distributed as free software...
productivity suite, the Epiphany Internet browser, the Pidgin
Pidgin (software)
Pidgin is an open-source multi-platform instant messaging client, based on a library named libpurple. Libpurple has support for many commonly used instant messaging protocols, allowing the user to log into various services from one application.The number of Pidgin users was estimated to be over 3...
instant messenger, and the GIMP
GIMP
GIMP is a free software raster graphics editor. It is primarily employed as an image retouching and editing tool and is freely available in versions tailored for most popular operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux.In addition to detailed image retouching and...
for editing photos and other raster graphics
Raster graphics
In computer graphics, a raster graphics image, or bitmap, is a data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium...
. Common software development
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...
tools including GCC
GNU Compiler Collection
The GNU Compiler Collection is a compiler system produced by the GNU Project supporting various programming languages. GCC is a key component of the GNU toolchain...
and the GNU Emacs text editor
Text editor
A text editor is a type of program used for editing plain text files.Text editors are often provided with operating systems or software development packages, and can be used to change configuration files and programming language source code....
are installed by default.
Installation
The Live CDLive CD
A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...
can be used to run the Operating System and to install onto disk. CD images are available for download.
Versions
Version 1.0, "deltad", was released on 2 November 2006 and was based on Ubuntu 6.06 "Dapper Drake". Version 2.0, "deltah", followed on 30 April 2008 and is based on Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron"; version 2.1 is a minor update which removes non-free software and expands hardware support. Version 3.0 is expected to be based on DebianDebian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
instead of Ubuntu.
Comparison with other distributions
Non-free software repositoriesSoftware repository
A software repository is a storage location from which software packages may be retrieved and installed on a computer.- Discussion :Many software publishers and other organizations maintain servers on the Internet for this purpose, either free of charge or for a subscription fee...
are not provided by the gNewSense project, most non-free documentation and artwork have been removed and Ubuntu's "Universe" package repository is enabled by default. In order to avoid trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
problems that stem from the modification of Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
, gNewSense 1.1 rebranded it as "BurningDog". BurningDog likewise neither suggests nor provides/supports non-free plugins for various web media, such as Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
. gNewSense 2.0 uses the Epiphany web browser as released by the GNOME
GNOME
GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...
Project, with an option in software sources to install GNU IceCat
GNU IceCat
GNU IceCat, formerly known as GNU IceWeasel, is a free software rebranding of the Mozilla Firefox web browser distributed by the GNU Project. It is compatible with both the GNU/Linux and Mac OS X operating systems....
.
Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
is another GNU/Linux distribution noted for strict licensing requirements. gNewSense excludes non-free software that Debian includes (such as proprietary firmware
Firmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
) and does not have repositories for non-free software (which Debian has). It should be noted, however, that gNewSense's policies allow including documentation that the Debian project considers non-free, particularly that licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License
GNU Free Documentation License
The GNU Free Documentation License is a copyleft license for free documentation, designed by the Free Software Foundation for the GNU Project. It is similar to the GNU General Public License, giving readers the rights to copy, redistribute, and modify a work and requires all copies and...
with invariant sections. This includes many manuals released by 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...
themselves, which contain a lengthy manifesto promoting software freedom as an invariant section.
Limitations
Over one hundred pieces of non-free firmwareFirmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
were removed from the Ubuntu Linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
to make gNewSense. Such removals include support for some wireless network
Wireless network
Wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is not connected by cables of any kind. It is a method by which homes, telecommunications networks and enterprise installations avoid the costly process of introducing cables into a building, or as a connection between various equipment...
cards, and therefore gNewSense currently supports a reduced range of wireless network cards compared to some other GNU/Linux distributions. By May 1, 2008, 3D graphics and application support were also removed because of licensing issues with Mesa 3D. After January 13, 2009, those issues were resolved and 3D support is now standard as of the 2.2 release.
Creating personalized versions
Brian Brazil developed a tool called Builder to make gNewSense from Ubuntu. It is designed to be general enough so that anyone can use it to make their own free software distribution of GNU/Linux.See also
- List of Linux distributions endorsed by the Free Software Foundation
- List of Ubuntu-based distributions