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gNewSense

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gNewSense
gNewSense
DeveloperBrian Brazil and Paul O'Malley
OS familyUnix-like
Working stateCurrent
Source modelFree software
Latest release2.3 [1] / September 14, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-09-14)
Repository
Update methodAPT
Package managerdpkg / Synaptic Package Manager
Platformsx86, mips
Kernel typeMonolithic Linux kernel
Default
user interface		GNOME
LicenseFree software licenses mainly the GNU GPL
Official websitewww.gnewsense.org

gNewSense is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Ubuntu.[2] Its goal is to maintain the user-friendliness of Ubuntu, but with all non-free software and binary blobs removed. The Free Software Foundation considers gNewSense to be a Linux distribution composed entirely of free software.[3]

gNewSense takes a relatively strict stance against non-free software. For example, any documentation that gives instructions on installing non-free software is excluded.[4] gNewSense is the operating system used by Richard Stallman (founder and president of the Free Software Foundation) as of January 2010.[5]

The project was launched by Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley in 2006. Since the 1.0 release, the Free Software Foundation assists gNewSense.[6]

Technical aspects

By default gNewSense uses GNOME, 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.

Installation

The Live CD can be used to run the Operating System and to install onto disk. CD images are available for download.[7]

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 will be based on Debian instead of Ubuntu.[8]

Comparison with other distributions

Non-free software repositories 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[9] 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 non-free/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.

Limitations

Over one hundred pieces of non-free firmware were removed from the Ubuntu Linux kernel to make gNewSense.[citation needed] 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 [10] because of licensing issues[11] with Mesa 3D. After January 13, 2009, those issues were resolved and 3D support is now standard as of the 2.2 release.[12]

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: Software remastering

See also

References

  1. ^ http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-users/2009-09/msg00090.html
  2. ^ "gNewSense Official Website : Free as in freedom | FAQ / FAQ | browse". gNewSense.org. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  3. ^ http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html List of Free Software Foundation approved GNU/Linux distributions
  4. ^ http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Main/CommunityGuidelines
  5. ^ http://richard.stallman.usesthis.com/
  6. ^ gNewSense 1.0 released - Free Software Foundation
  7. ^ Download stable gNewSense
  8. ^ http://www.gnewsense.org/index.php?n=FAQ.FAQ#toc13
  9. ^ gNewSense Official Website | Main / PressRelease20070122
  10. ^ http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/Deltah
  11. ^ xserver-xorg: wordy SGI license may not be free bugs.gnewsense.org
  12. ^ http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/2009-01-xorg-glx
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