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''This article is on The GNU Project. For the system, see [[GNU/Linux]]''

'''The GNU Project''' is a project dedicated to making an entire, fully functional operating system composed entirely of [[Free software|free software]].[https://www.gnu.org/#home] While GNU is [[UNIX-like]], it's not [[UNIX]]. In fact, GNU is a recursive acronym for "GNU's not UNIX".[https://www.gnu.org/gnu/about-gnu.html] The common distribution of their operating system is with use of the Linux kernel, thus making the system [[GNU/Linux]]. However, The GNU Project has been developing its own kernel, [[GNU Herd]], since the late 1980's.

=History=

The story of the GNU Project all starts with our GNU/Lord and GNU/Savior, [[Richard Stallman]]. After coming up with the idea of free software at [[MIT]], Stallman set off to create the first free [[Operating system|operating system]].[https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-history.html][https://www.gnu.org/gnu/thegnuproject.html]

After The GNU Project was fully set up, work begun on the GNU system. This included development of the [[GNU Core Utilities]], designed to replace every [[proprietary]] tool in mainline UNIX systems, such as AT&T UNIX [[System V]]. 

Development on a GNU system became complete around the end of the 1980's, only a decade later. However, one major thing was missing, the [[kernel]]. [[GNU Herd]] was then going under active development, but due to lack of developers and commitment, it has never reached the mainline stage. Development still continues, however. 

In 1992, [[Linus Torvalds]] created the [[Linux]] kernel, which was a UNIX-Like kernel much like what GNU was attempting to do. Linus said that he never expected this kernel to go anywhere, and it wouldn't be ''professional like GNU''. After releasing his kernel under [[Licenses|The GNU Public License (v2)]], the Linux kernel began to be a part of the GNU system. 

''See also [[Interjection]]''

In the early 2000's, the bundling of the Linux kernel with the GNU [[Userland]] caused Richard Stallman to correct followers of free software into calling it GNU/Linux (Ganoo slash Lineux) or GNU+Linux (ganoo plus Lineux). It was the view of Richard that the GNU system is a full system as defined under the [[POSIX]] UNIX Specifications. The Linux Kernel was just the missing part. This has caused some [[Interjection|Debate]] on what to actually call the system, however followers of the [[Free Software Foundation]], the GNU Project's counterpart, automatically call it GNU/Linux out of respect of the FSF, and to show what team they play for, so to speak.