Bonum Certa Men Certa

The GNU Manifesto Turns 40 Next Month

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Feb 17, 2025

In 1985 Richard Stallman published the GNU Manifesto

I've embraced and actively promoted Free software for a majority of my lifetime (relentlessly promoted for about half the lifetime so far). I'm of the "DOS generation" and I was introduced to computers around the time the FSF was founded (and GNU's development had already begun). GNU didn't have a kernel (yet) and the Internet was not a residential thing; you only had it in some particular places of employment and there was nothing like IRC or the Web. They didn't exist yet.

So much has changed since I promoted Free software in the 90s. Many people are now 'hooked' on "apps" and "stores". They depend not so much on Microsoft but on giants like Google and Apple. That means that to promote Free software we need to speak about issues bigger than Microsoft alone. Some days ago in Torino Richard Stallman explained that the Free Software Movement isn't about combating just one person or company (after someone had asked about Bill Gates). Companies change, not just by means of renaming, morphing, or being replaced by bigger (or lesser) evils. Unless we can keep track of the fundamental issues, the 'audience' will lose touch (or get fed up) with the solutions. Many people falsely assume that some proprietary software is "open" or somehow a victory for "Linux" (a new article says that "Valve officially recommends re-installing your operating system if you played this game").

As we explained months ago, digital freedom-fighting is a perpetual goal and a battle that will never be "won". However, "being in the game" means more people will (over time) participate and emancipate themselves.

The GNU Manifesto is about to turn 40 and its author turns 72 on the very same month.

Judging by his recent "marathon of talks" (in Europe and India, not the US where he lives), he can still articulate his positions/stances as well as ever, his hair grows back (after treatment for cancer), and perverts who attempt to cancel his talks cannot succeed anymore. His right-hand man, Alex (Alexandre) Oliva, has just upped his digital autonomy, and the FSF keeps adding new staff (this one is the latest). The FSF's board has grown, the budget has apparently improved, and there are big celebrations later this year, even some auctions.

The guardian of Free software (definition, licences, philosophy, hosting and so on) has managed to endure and persevere for 40 years. Very few others can say the same.

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