GNU

Free software project

GNU, pronounced with a hard G, is a large African antelope with a shaggy mane, curved horns, and a bearded face.

It is more commonly called a wildebeest.

GNU is also a recursive acronym standing for "GNU's Not Unix," referring to a free software operating system project launched in 1984 that became foundational to the open-source movement.

The GNU project's tools combined with the Linux kernel form the basis of many modern operating systems.

software

Linux

Open-source operating system kernel

recursive · acronym · GIMP · GCC · GNOME · kernel · copyleft · compiler · operating system · freedom

animal

wildebeest

Large African grazing antelope

herd · grazing · savanna · Africa · Masai Mara · brindled · crossing · plains · hooves · Tanzania

acronym

recursive

Defined in terms of itself

initialism · humor · hacker · wordplay · Unix · naming · convention · computing · geek · clever

Opposites
software licensing philosophy

GNUproprietary software

Restricted, owned computer programs

closed source · closed-source · Microsoft · Microsoft Windows · Windows

animal (wildebeest)

GNUlion

Maned African feline

predator · leopard · hyena · cheetah · African wild dog

software ecosystem lineage

GNUUnix

Multitasking operating system family

Family

gnus

Familiarity
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Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G