What is the full form of GNU

GNU: GNU's Not UNIX

GNU stands for GNU's Not UNIX. It is a UNIX like computer operating system, but unlike UNIX, it is free software and contains no UNIX code. It is pronounced as guh-noo. Sometimes, it is also written as GNU General Public License. It is based on the GNU Hurd kernel and It is intended to develop and share software for free, for all its users.

Its logo is gnu head (a large dark antelope with a long head). It is originally designed by Etienne Suvasa. Later, Aurelio Heckert designed a simple and bolder version of this logo. The logo appears in GNU software, GNU project and in free software foundation materials.

History and Objective

It was started as a project by Richard Stallman in 1983 and its development began on January 5, 1984. The main objective of GNU was to provide free software. Due to its similar design to UNIX, it is named as UNIX like computer system but it contains no UNIX code. It is available in multiple languages.

Components of GNU

• GNU Compiler Collection (GCC)
• GNU C Library (glibc)
• GNU Core Utilities (coreutils)
• GNU Debugger (GDB)
• GNU Binary Utilities (binutils)
• GNU Bash shell
• Genome desktop environment etc.

Advantages

• Low Cost
• Performance
• Multitasking
• Network friendliness
• Open source software packages
• Stable and secure
• Compatibility and Configurability

GNU License

Richard Stallman wrote a license for the development of needed software. This license is called GNU General Public License. It has a goal to guarantee users freedom to share and change free software. Now, this license is used by most of GNU software and also a lot of free software that are not the part of GNU project.