Techrights

The GNU Manifesto is 40. Here's the Original Print (1985).

Posted by Roy Schestowitz on Mar 18, 2025,

updated Mar 18, 2025

We've spent some time trying to locate the original GNU Manifesto, which is 40 this month. It's about memorabilia this week, right? We ended up finding it in the Internet Archive via https://historyofinformation.com. 10 years ago when online media was in better (not great) shape the anniversary was still mentioned. There are references and copies of the text [1, 2, 3, 4], but this is the original predating the Web and HTML:

Some unpleasant people want to replace GNU with Microsoft-controlled (GitHub) Rust copycats, but resistance to this agenda exists (we saw 4 examples so far; maybe a story for another day). Microsoft Canonical might shoot its own foot by shunning GPL and GNU. There are many other distros users can turn to.

The Rust-based OS (kernel) project failed to gain users or any significant relevance, so now they prey on Linux, too. Don't trust Rust and its people. They're not pro-freedom and whatever they say about security is partly "cargo cult".

We need fewer dishonest people in the community. GNU became so important and widespread that it's an attractive "target" for abusive people/companies. █