gNewSense - IFSO Wiki

1. So, what is Gnewsense?

gNewSense is a GNU/Linux distro which took the very popular Ubuntu distro and turned off the non-free software.

It does not contain Digital Restrictions Management, preventing the use of the computer by the user in any way. The user is free to use the software for any purpose: they are free to study it and, if they so choose, to improve it, and they can give those changes back to the community. They are also free to share it with anyone.

2. Why make another Linux distro?

It was inspired by the words of Richard Stallman and Mark Shuttleworth. They both talked of a vision of a Free version of Ubuntu. While they both used the same name for this distro, there were certain things standing in the way of both views coming to pass.

We have the licence to do so, thanks to the GPL and various other Free Software licences.

3. Isn't Linux already free? What is unique about the gNewSense distributon?

Linux as in the Linux Program (also called the Linux Kernel), is not fully free.

When we started out we felt it was only a matter of removing non free repositories and the infamous "restricted" modules from the Ubuntu kernel and the job would be done.

In parallel with this our opinion was similar to that of many people who, when they spoke of Free Software, assumed that in general the generic kernel had no non-free software in it. This however was not accurate. What had been taken for granted was that the Linux Kernel could not have the non-free software removed from it without rendering is useless.

As we dug deeper we found more non-free software, we tried various methods to "automatically" find this software, we ended up with a combination of both automatic suspect file detection, and then the more tedious job of reading those files to filter them.

Press Release

This is a draft of a possible press release, prepared by Hugh Gibbons based on the questions above.

PR

gNewSense, a new Gnu\Linux distribution, has recently been released.

The aim of this distribution is to provide total software freedom for the user. It provides access to all the sources for all software in the system. Gone are the binary 'blobs' and and other non-free software. It does not contain Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) and therefore allows the user full use of their computer without restriction. According to Ted Teah from Free Software Foundation (FSF), "... this distribution is the most advanced GNU/Linux distribution that has a commitment to be 100% free." This is important as it allows the user to:

Run the software for any purpose;
Study how it works & adapt it to their needs;
Redistribute copies, and
Improve it & release their improvements to the public.
- gNewScience was developed by two Irish free software advocates, Brian

Brazil and Paul O'Malley. In an interview with the Irish Free Software Organisation (IFSO) Paul O'Malley explained that they were inspired by the words of Richard Stallman and Mark Shuttleworth who both talked of a vision of a Free version of Linux. In particular in comparing this operating system with Linux, he went on to say, "Linux as in the Linux Program is not fully free. When we started out we felt it was only a matter of removing non free repositories and the infamous "restricted" modules from Linux and the job would be done. As we dug deeper we found more non-free software, we tried various methods to "automatically" find this software, we ended up with a combination of both automatic suspect file detection, and then the more tedious job of reading those files to filter them."

gNewSense incorporates a unique software tool, Builder, that allows the specialist user to build their own gNewSense-based distributions. This will further allow developers to develop free and open software on a free and open operating system.

The gNewSense distribution can be downloaded from http://www.gnewsense.org/