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m →Reception: He actually used a Lemote Yeeloong running gNewSense until it got stolen in Argentina.
 
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| caption = gNewSense 4.0
| caption = gNewSense 4.0
| developer = Current: Matt Lee<ref name="Lee">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/next-steps/|title=Next Steps for gNewSense|last=Lee|first=Matt|website=www.gnewsense.org|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190812161416/http://www.gnewsense.org/next-steps/ |archive-date= 12 August 2019|url-status= live}}</ref><br />former: Sam Geeraerts, K.Goetz, Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley
| developer = Current: Matt Lee<ref name="Lee">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/next-steps/|title=Next Steps for gNewSense|last=Lee|first=Matt|website=www.gnewsense.org|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190812161416/http://www.gnewsense.org/next-steps/ |archive-date= 12 August 2019|url-status= live}}</ref><br />former: Sam Geeraerts, K.Goetz, Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley
| family = [[Linux]]
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| released = {{Start date and age|2006|11|02}}
| released = {{Start date and age|2006|11|02}}
| userland = [[GNU Core Utilities|GNU]]
| userland = [[GNU Core Utilities|GNU]]
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| license = [[FSDG]]
| license = [[FSDG]]
| website = {{url|http://www.gnewsense.org}}
| website = {{url|http://www.gnewsense.org}}
| latest_release_version = <!-- If you update this, remember to also update [[Comparison of Linux distributions]]. --> 4.0<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-users/2016-05/msg00000.html |title=[gNewSense-users&#93; gNewSense 4.0 released |publisher=Lists.nongnu.org |date=2016-05-02 |access-date=2016-05-02}}</ref>
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|edit|Q305901|P348}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-users/2016-05/msg00000.html |title=[gNewSense-users&#93; gNewSense 4.0 released |publisher=Lists.nongnu.org |date=2016-05-02 |access-date=2016-05-02 |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801052209/https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-users/2016-05/msg00000.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2016|05|02|df=yes}}
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q305901|P348|P577}}}}
| latest_preview_version = 4.0 Alpha 1<ref name=3beta>{{cite web|url=http://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-dev/2014-12/msg00000.html|title=Ucclia alpha 1|publisher=gNewSense-dev mailing list}}</ref>
| latest_preview_version = 4.0 Alpha 1<ref name=3beta>{{cite web|url=http://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-dev/2014-12/msg00000.html|title=Ucclia alpha 1|publisher=gNewSense-dev mailing list|access-date=7 December 2014|archive-date=10 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210085743/http://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-dev/2014-12/msg00000.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| latest_preview_date = {{Start date and age|2014|12|02|df=yes}}<ref name=3beta/>
| latest_preview_date = {{Start date and age|2014|12|02|df=yes}}<ref name=3beta/>
| marketing_target =
| marketing_target =
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel|Linux]])
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel|Linux]])
| working_state = Dormant<ref name="Distrowatch"/>
| working_state = discontinued<ref name="Distrowatch"/>
| supported_platforms = [[amd64]], [[i386]], [[Loongson]]
| supported_platforms = [[amd64]], [[i386]], [[Loongson]]
| updatemodel = [[long term support]]
| updatemodel = [[long term support]]
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|date=July 2014
|date=July 2014
}}
}}
⚫
'''gNewSense''' is a [[Linux distribution]] that was active from 2006 to 2016. It was based on [[Debian]], and developed with sponsorship from the [[Free Software Foundation]]. Its goal was user-friendliness, but with all [[proprietary software|proprietary]] (e.g. [[binary blob]]s) and non-free software removed. The Free Software Foundation considered gNewSense to be composed entirely of [[free software]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html |title=List of Free GNU/Linux Distributions - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation |publisher=Gnu.org |access-date=2013-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/next-steps/|title=gNewSense|website=www.gnewsense.org|quote=Hello, I'm Matt Lee, I've recently taken over maintaining gNewSense from Sam [..] I'm Matt Lee: former FSF campaigns manager, [..] I have a vision for desktop GNU/Linux that is unfulfilled.|first=Matt|last=Lee|year=2019|access-date=2019-10-05}}</ref>


⚫
'''gNewSense''' was a [[Linux distribution]], active from 2006 to 2016. It was based on [[Debian]], and developed with sponsorship from the [[Free Software Foundation]]. Its goal was user-friendliness, but with all [[proprietary software|proprietary]] (e.g. [[binary blob]]s) and non-free software removed. The Free Software Foundation considered gNewSense to be composed entirely of [[free software]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html |title=List of Free GNU/Linux Distributions - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation |publisher=Gnu.org |access-date=2013-06-23 |archive-date=14 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214211526/http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/next-steps/|title=gNewSense|website=www.gnewsense.org|quote=Hello, I'm Matt Lee, I've recently taken over maintaining gNewSense from Sam [..] I'm Matt Lee: former FSF campaigns manager, [..] I have a vision for desktop GNU/Linux that is unfulfilled.|first=Matt|last=Lee|year=2019|access-date=2019-10-05|archive-date=12 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812161416/http://www.gnewsense.org/next-steps/|url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫
gNewSense took a relatively strict stance against proprietary software. For example, any documentation that gave instructions on installing proprietary software was excluded.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Main/CommunityGuidelines |title=Community guidelines&nbsp;– gNewSense GNU/Linux |publisher=Wiki.gnewsense.org |date=2010-04-30 |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902094323/http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Main/CommunityGuidelines |archive-date=2011-09-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


⚫
gNewSense took a relatively strict stance against proprietary software. For example, any documentation that gave instructions on installing proprietary software was excluded.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Main/CommunityGuidelines |title=Community guidelines – gNewSense GNU/Linux |publisher=Wiki.gnewsense.org |date=2010-04-30 |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902094323/http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Main/CommunityGuidelines |archive-date=2011-09-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
⚫
gNewSense's last release was made in 2016 and it has not had a supported version since 2018. [[DistroWatch]] classifies gNewSense as a "dormant" distribution.<ref name="Distrowatch"/>

⚫
gNewSense's last release was made in 2016 and it has not had a supported version since 2018. [[DistroWatch]] classifies gNewSense as "discontinued".<ref name="Distrowatch"/>


== History ==
== History ==
The project was launched by Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley in 2006. gNewSense was originally based on [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]]. With the 1.0 release, the Free Software Foundation provided assistance to gNewSense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fsf.org/news/gnewsense |title=gNewSense 1.0 released&nbsp;– Free Software Foundation |publisher=Fsf.org |access-date=2011-07-02}}</ref>
The project was launched by Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley in 2006. gNewSense was originally based on [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]]. With the 1.0 release, the Free Software Foundation provided assistance to gNewSense.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fsf.org/news/gnewsense |title=gNewSense 1.0 released – Free Software Foundation |publisher=Fsf.org |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109035127/https://www.fsf.org/news/gnewsense |url-status=live }}</ref>

⚫
With no releases in two years, on 8 August 2011, [[DistroWatch]] classified gNewSense as "dormant". By September 2012 DistroWatch had changed the status to "active" again, and on 6 August 2013, the first version directly based on Debian, gNewSense 3 "Parkes", was released.<ref name="Distrowatch">{{cite web |url=http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=gnewsense |title=DistroWatch.com: gNewSense |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=14 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014101312/http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=gnewsense |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="gNewSenseNews">{{Cite news|url = http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/HomePage|title = News|access-date = 22 January 2012|last = Goetz|first = K.|date = 12 October 2011|work = gNewSense|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120205014929/http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/HomePage|archive-date = 5 February 2012|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="gnewsense1">{{cite web |url=http://www.gnewsense.org/FAQ#Why_is_gNewSense_3_based_on_Debian_instead_of_Ubuntu.3F |title=FAQ – gNewSense GNU/Linux |publisher=gNewSense |access-date=2014-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508111625/http://www.gnewsense.org/FAQ#Why_is_gNewSense_3_based_on_Debian_instead_of_Ubuntu.3F |archive-date=2015-05-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Sneddon08Aug13">{{cite news|url = http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/08/gnewsense-drops-ubuntu-for-latest-release|title = gNewSense 3 Released, Is No Longer Based on Ubuntu|access-date = 10 August 2013|last = Sneddon|first = Joey|date = 8 August 2013|work = OMG Ubuntu|archive-date = 11 August 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130811062130/http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/08/gnewsense-drops-ubuntu-for-latest-release|url-status = live}}</ref>


⚫
There have been several indications that it may be restarted, including a website announcement in 2019, but the project has remained inactive, with no releases since 2016. DistroWatch returned it to "dormant" status again in 2019 and "discontinued" by 2022.<ref name="Lee"/><ref name="Distrowatch"/>
⚫
With no releases in two years, on 8 August 2011, [[DistroWatch]] classified gNewSense as "dormant". By September 2012 DistroWatch had changed the status to "active" again, and on 6 August 2013, the first version directly based on Debian, gNewSense 3 "Parkes", was released.<ref name="Distrowatch">{{cite web |url=http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=gnewsense |title=DistroWatch.com: gNewSense |access-date=2012-09-13}}</ref><ref name="gNewSenseNews">{{Cite news|url = http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/HomePage|title = News|access-date = 22 January 2012|last = Goetz|first = K.|date = 12 October 2011|work = gNewSense|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120205014929/http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/HomePage|archive-date = 5 February 2012|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="gnewsense1">{{cite web |url=http://www.gnewsense.org/FAQ#Why_is_gNewSense_3_based_on_Debian_instead_of_Ubuntu.3F |title=FAQ&nbsp;– gNewSense GNU/Linux |publisher=gNewSense |access-date=2014-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508111625/http://www.gnewsense.org/FAQ#Why_is_gNewSense_3_based_on_Debian_instead_of_Ubuntu.3F |archive-date=2015-05-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Sneddon08Aug13">{{cite news|url = http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/08/gnewsense-drops-ubuntu-for-latest-release|title = gNewSense 3 Released, Is No Longer Based on Ubuntu|access-date = 10 August 2013|last = Sneddon|first = Joey|date = 8 August 2013| work = OMG Ubuntu}}</ref>


⚫
{{As of|2021|4|13}}, the home page of the project's website displayed a blank page with a [[Internet Meme|meme]] labelling the Free Software Foundation a [[cult]]. After a short time, the website then redirected to the home page of the [[PureOS]] website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/|title=gNewSense|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=gNewSense |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210413013721/http://gnewsense.org|archive-date= 13 April 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref>
⚫
There have been several indications that it many be restarted, including a website announcement in 2019, but the project has remained inactive, with no releases since 2016. DistroWatch returned it to "dormant" status again in 2019.<ref name="Lee"/><ref name="Distrowatch"/>


However, as of June 2021, it now redirects to the FSF's list of Free/Libre distros.<ref>{{Cite web|title=gNewSense|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/|access-date=2021-07-01|website=gnewsense.org|archive-date=28 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228055844/http://www.gnewsense.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫
{{As of|2021|4|13}}, the home page of the project's website displays a blank page with an [[Internet Meme|meme]] disrespecting the Free Software Foundation and labelling it a [[cult]]. After a short time, the website then redirects to the home page of the [[PureOS]] website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/|title=gNewSense|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=gNewSense}}</ref> This could indicate an endorsement of [[PureOS]] as a replacement for gNewSense as both projects have similar goals. This also likely indicates that plans to continue gNewSense have ended. However no official statement of the status of the project has been released.


== Technical aspects ==
== Technical aspects ==
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The [[Ubiquity (software)|Ubiquity]] installer allows installing to the hard disk from within the [[Live CD]] environment without the need for restarting the computer prior to installation.<ref>[http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Documentation/InstallingGNewSense#Using_the_Live_CD Using the Live CD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175407/http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Documentation/InstallingGNewSense#Using_the_Live_CD |date=2016-03-03 }} gnewsense.org</ref>
The [[Ubiquity (software)|Ubiquity]] installer allows installing to the hard disk from within the [[Live CD]] environment without the need for restarting the computer prior to installation.<ref>[http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Documentation/InstallingGNewSense#Using_the_Live_CD Using the Live CD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175407/http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Documentation/InstallingGNewSense#Using_the_Live_CD |date=2016-03-03 }} gnewsense.org</ref>


Besides standard system tools and other small applications, gNewSense comes installed with the following software: the [[LibreOffice]] productivity suite,<ref name="PhoronixGNewSense4">{{cite web |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=gNewSense-4-Released |title=FSF-Approved gNewSense 4 GNU/Linux Distribution Released - Phoronix|access-date = 31 March 2019|last = Larabel |first = Michael|date = 6 May 2016}}</ref> the [[Web (web browser)|GNOME Web]] internet browser, the [[Empathy (software)|Empathy]] instant messenger, and the [[GIMP]] for editing photos and other [[raster graphics]]. Common [[software development]] tools including the [[GNU Compiler Collection|GCC]] are installed by default.<ref>[http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Documentation#Using_gNewSense Using gNewSense] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727011448/http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Documentation#Using_gNewSense |date=2014-07-27 }} gnewsense.org</ref>
Besides standard system tools and other small applications, gNewSense comes installed with the following software: the [[LibreOffice]] productivity suite,<ref name="PhoronixGNewSense4">{{cite web|url = https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=gNewSense-4-Released|title = FSF-Approved gNewSense 4 GNU/Linux Distribution Released - Phoronix|access-date = 31 March 2019|last = Larabel|first = Michael|date = 6 May 2016|archive-date = 31 March 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190331042808/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=gNewSense-4-Released|url-status = live}}</ref> the [[Web (web browser)|GNOME Web]] internet browser, the [[Empathy (software)|Empathy]] instant messenger, and the [[GIMP]] for editing photos and other [[raster graphics]]. Common [[software development]] tools including the [[GNU Compiler Collection|GCC]] are installed by default.<ref>[http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Documentation#Using_gNewSense Using gNewSense] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727011448/http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Documentation#Using_gNewSense |date=2014-07-27 }} gnewsense.org</ref>


=== Installation ===
=== Installation ===
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|-
|-
! Version
! Version
! [[Code name|Code&nbsp;name]]
! [[Code name]]
! style="width:90px" | Release date
! style="width:90px" | Release date
! Supported until
! Supported until
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| <!--Supported architectures--> {{n/a}}
| <!--Supported architectures--> {{n/a}}
|-
|-
| <!--Version-->{{Version |o |3.0}}<ref name="gnewsense1"/><ref name="Sneddon08Aug13" /><ref>[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20130826#feature Freedom and gNewSense 3.0], ''DistroWatch Weekly''</ref>
| <!--Version-->{{Version |o |3.0}}<ref name="gnewsense1"/><ref name="Sneddon08Aug13" /><ref>[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20130826#feature Freedom and gNewSense 3.0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142809/https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20130826#feature |date=12 June 2018 }}, ''DistroWatch Weekly''</ref>
| <!--Code name-->''Parkes''
| <!--Code name-->''Parkes''
| <!--Release date--> 2013-08-06
| <!--Release date--> 2013-08-06
| <!--Supported until--> {{Version |o | 2015-12-31<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-dev/2015-10/msg00007.html|title=Re: [Gnewsense-dev] Likely EoL date for gNewSense 3.1|website=lists.nongnu.org}}</ref>}}
| <!--Supported until--> {{Version |o | 2015-12-31<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-dev/2015-10/msg00007.html|title=Re: [Gnewsense-dev] Likely EoL date for gNewSense 3.1|website=lists.nongnu.org|access-date=12 August 2019|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131827/http://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-dev/2015-10/msg00007.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| <!--Based on-->[[Debian]] 6.0 "Squeeze"
| <!--Based on-->[[Debian]] 6.0 "Squeeze"
| <!--Supported architectures--> i386, amd64, [[Lemote Yeeloong]]
| <!--Supported architectures--> i386, amd64, [[Lemote Yeeloong]]
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| <!--Code name-->''Ucclia''
| <!--Code name-->''Ucclia''
| <!--Release date--> 2016-05-02
| <!--Release date--> 2016-05-02
| <!--Supported until-->{{Version |o | 2018-05-31<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trisquel.info/en/forum/release-gnewsense-4-beta-codenamed-ucclia|title=Release of gNewSense 4 (beta) codenamed Ucclia &#124; Trisquel GNU/Linux - Run free!}}</ref>}}
| <!--Supported until-->{{Version |o | 2018-05-31<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trisquel.info/en/forum/release-gnewsense-4-beta-codenamed-ucclia|title=Release of gNewSense 4 (beta) codenamed Ucclia &#124; Trisquel GNU/Linux - Run free!|access-date=23 November 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031430/https://trisquel.info/en/forum/release-gnewsense-4-beta-codenamed-ucclia|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| <!--Based on-->Debian 7 "Wheezy"
| <!--Based on-->Debian 7 "Wheezy"
| <!--Supported architectures--> i386, amd64, [[Lemote Yeeloong]]
| <!--Supported architectures--> i386, amd64, [[Lemote Yeeloong]]
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| colspan=6 | {{Version |l |show=10100}}
| colspan=6 | {{Version |l |show=10100}}
|}
|}
In 2016, gNewSense announced that the next version of gNewSense would be 5.0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-dev/2016-05/msg00000.html|title=[Gnewsense-dev] gNewSense 5|website=lists.nongnu.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=gNewSense-5-Planning|title=gNewSense 5 Hopes To Be A Speedier Release Of The FSF-Approved Linux OS - Phoronix|website=www.phoronix.com}}</ref>
In 2016, gNewSense announced that the next version of gNewSense would be 5.0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-dev/2016-05/msg00000.html|title=[Gnewsense-dev] gNewSense 5|website=lists.nongnu.org|access-date=12 August 2019|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921143104/https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnewsense-dev/2016-05/msg00000.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=gNewSense-5-Planning|title=gNewSense 5 Hopes To Be A Speedier Release Of The FSF-Approved Linux OS - Phoronix|website=www.phoronix.com|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140929/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=gNewSense-5-Planning|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Comparison with other distributions ==
== Comparison with other distributions ==
Non-free software [[software repository|repositories]] are not provided by the gNewSense project, and most non-free documentation and artwork have been removed. While it was based on Ubuntu, the "Universe" package repository was enabled by default. In order to avoid [[trademark]] problems that stem from the modification of [[Mozilla Firefox]], gNewSense 1.1 rebranded it as "BurningDog". BurningDog likewise does not offer to install non-free [[Plug-in (computing)|plugin]]s<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/PressRelease20070122 |title=gNewSense Official Website &#124; Main / PressRelease20070122 |publisher=Gnewsense.org |date=2007-01-22 |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/65tgQTgi2?url=http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/PressRelease20070122 |archive-date=2012-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> for various web media, such as [[Adobe Flash]]. gNewSense 2.0 abandoned BurningDog and adopted the [[Web (web browser)|Epiphany]] web browser (later renamed simply "Web"), a component of [[GNOME]], as its default browser application, and came with recommendations and instructions to optionally compile and run [[GNU IceCat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/MainRepo/Firefox|title=gNewSense MainRepo (old)|access-date=2014-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703040900/http://www.gnewsense.org/MainRepo/Firefox|archive-date=2016-07-03|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/Documentation/3/MiscellaneousGuides/CompileGnuIcecatSeventeen|title=gNewSense 3.0 IceCat Compile Instructions|access-date=2014-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123851/http://www.gnewsense.org/Documentation/3/MiscellaneousGuides/CompileGnuIcecatSeventeen|archive-date=2015-04-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> gNewSense 3.0 retains Web as the default browser, but also comes with a modified version of Debian's [[Mozilla Corporation software rebranded by the Debian project#Iceweasel|Iceweasel]] that does not offer to access proprietary add-ons.<ref name="gnewsense.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/Documentation/3/DifferencesWithDebian|title=gNewSense 3.0 Documentation, Differences with Debian|access-date=2014-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224111911/http://www.gnewsense.org/Documentation/3/DifferencesWithDebian|archive-date=2019-02-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Non-free software [[software repository|repositories]] are not provided by the gNewSense project, and most non-free documentation and artwork have been removed. While it was based on Ubuntu, the "Universe" package repository was enabled by default. In order to avoid [[trademark]] problems that stem from the modification of [[Mozilla Firefox]], gNewSense 1.1 rebranded it as "BurningDog". BurningDog likewise does not offer to install non-free [[Plug-in (computing)|plugin]]s<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/PressRelease20070122 |title=gNewSense Official Website &#124; Main / PressRelease20070122 |publisher=Gnewsense.org |date=2007-01-22 |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222090331/http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/PressRelease20070122 |archive-date=2012-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> for various web media, such as [[Adobe Flash]]. gNewSense 2.0 abandoned BurningDog and adopted the [[Web (web browser)|Epiphany]] web browser (later renamed simply "Web"), a component of [[GNOME]], as its default browser application, and came with recommendations and instructions to optionally compile and run [[GNU IceCat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/MainRepo/Firefox|title=gNewSense MainRepo (old)|access-date=2014-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703040900/http://www.gnewsense.org/MainRepo/Firefox|archive-date=2016-07-03|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/Documentation/3/MiscellaneousGuides/CompileGnuIcecatSeventeen|title=gNewSense 3.0 IceCat Compile Instructions|access-date=2014-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123851/http://www.gnewsense.org/Documentation/3/MiscellaneousGuides/CompileGnuIcecatSeventeen|archive-date=2015-04-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> gNewSense 3.0 retains Web as the default browser, but also comes with a modified version of Debian's [[Mozilla Corporation software rebranded by the Debian project#Iceweasel|Iceweasel]] that does not offer to access proprietary add-ons.<ref name="gnewsense.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/Documentation/3/DifferencesWithDebian|title=gNewSense 3.0 Documentation, Differences with Debian|access-date=2014-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224111911/http://www.gnewsense.org/Documentation/3/DifferencesWithDebian|archive-date=2019-02-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>


[[Debian]] is another [[Linux distribution]] known for strict licensing requirements and adherence to [[free software]] principles. While both Debian and gNewSense rigorously exclude non-free software and [[binary blobs]] from their official releases, Debian maintains and [[file server|hosts]] unofficial repositories of non-free software and [[firmware]] binaries, and Debian free software sometimes [[Coupling (computer programming)|depends]] upon or suggests the optional installation of [[proprietary software]], under the theory that [[User (computing)|user]]s' own informed discretion about the use of such software should be paramount, as expressed in Clause 5 of the [[Debian Social Contract]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.debian.org/social_contract.en.html|title=Debian Social Contract|website=www.debian.org}}</ref> (though Debian's democratic project management has seen this stance become a source of recurrent controversy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.debian.org/vote/2004/vote_002.en.html|title=General Resolution: Status of the non-free section|website=www.debian.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_007.en.html|title=General Resolution: Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel|website=www.debian.org}}</ref>). gNewSense, by contrast, does not provide any [[Package (package management system)|packages]] which depend on or suggest the use of non-free software, firmware, extensions, or plugins, nor does the gNewSense Project provide convenience-access to proprietary software for any reason, seeing this as an abrogation of the commitment to the development of [[Free software movement|free software solutions]]. Similar to Debian, gNewSense policies do not allow including documentation that are licensed under the [[GNU Free Documentation License]] with invariant sections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/LicenceInformationUpdate|title=LicenceInformationUpdate - gNewSense GNU/Linux|publisher=Gnewsense.org|access-date=2013-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043423/http://www.gnewsense.org/LicenceInformationUpdate|archive-date=2015-09-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> This includes many manuals and documentation released by the [[GNU Project]] themselves.
[[Debian]] is another [[Linux distribution]] known for strict licensing requirements and adherence to [[free software]] principles. While both Debian and gNewSense rigorously exclude non-free software and [[binary blobs]] from their official releases, Debian maintains and [[file server|hosts]] unofficial repositories of non-free software and [[firmware]] binaries, and Debian free software sometimes [[Coupling (computer programming)|depends]] upon or suggests the optional installation of [[proprietary software]], under the theory that [[User (computing)|user]]s' own informed discretion about the use of such software should be paramount, as expressed in Clause 5 of the [[Debian Social Contract]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.debian.org/social_contract.en.html|title=Debian Social Contract|website=www.debian.org|access-date=12 August 2019|archive-date=4 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804060728/https://www.debian.org/social_contract.en.html|url-status=live}}</ref> (though Debian's democratic project management has seen this stance become a source of recurrent controversy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.debian.org/vote/2004/vote_002.en.html|title=General Resolution: Status of the non-free section|website=www.debian.org|access-date=12 August 2019|archive-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421043849/https://www.debian.org/vote/2004/vote_002.en.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_007.en.html|title=General Resolution: Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel|website=www.debian.org|access-date=12 August 2019|archive-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421043815/https://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_007.en.html|url-status=live}}</ref>). gNewSense, by contrast, does not provide any [[Package (package management system)|packages]] which depend on or suggest the use of non-free software, firmware, extensions, or plugins, nor does the gNewSense Project provide convenience-access to proprietary software for any reason, seeing this as an abrogation of the commitment to the development of [[Free software movement|free software solutions]]. Similar to Debian, gNewSense policies do not allow including documentation that are licensed under the [[GNU Free Documentation License]] with invariant sections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/LicenceInformationUpdate|title=LicenceInformationUpdate - gNewSense GNU/Linux|publisher=Gnewsense.org|access-date=2013-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043423/http://www.gnewsense.org/LicenceInformationUpdate|archive-date=2015-09-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> This includes many manuals and documentation released by the [[GNU Project]] themselves.


While gNewSense was initially [[Fork (software development)|forked]] from [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] (itself originally a fork of [[Debian]]) as a result of founding developer Paul O'Malley's prior work with Ubuntu, as of gNewSense 3.0 the distribution has tracked Debian as the base for its software distribution. In part this has been because the Debian Project does carefully disaggregate the free software in its official distribution from the proprietary software it provides courtesy access to.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/FAQ|title=gNewSense FAQ|access-date=2012-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508111625/http://www.gnewsense.org/FAQ|archive-date=2015-05-08|url-status=dead}}</ref> Indeed, many of the packages, including Debian-particular packages (such as Iceweasel and Icedove) ported to gNewSense are simply modified in such a way that they no longer provide such courtesy access to non-free software options.<ref name="gnewsense.org"/>
While gNewSense was initially [[Fork (software development)|forked]] from [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] (itself originally a fork of [[Debian]]) as a result of founding developer Paul O'Malley's prior work with Ubuntu, as of gNewSense 3.0 the distribution has tracked Debian as the base for its software distribution. In part this has been because the Debian Project does carefully disaggregate the free software in its official distribution from the proprietary software it provides courtesy access to.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnewsense.org/FAQ|title=gNewSense FAQ|access-date=2012-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508111625/http://www.gnewsense.org/FAQ|archive-date=2015-05-08|url-status=dead}}</ref> Indeed, many of the packages, including Debian-particular packages (such as Iceweasel and Icedove) ported to gNewSense are simply modified in such a way that they no longer provide such courtesy access to non-free software options.<ref name="gnewsense.org"/>
Line 108: Line 111:
{{See also|Software remastering}}
{{See also|Software remastering}}


Since gNewSense's repositories contain only free software, support for hardware which requires firmware and for which no free firmware exists (such as some [[wireless network]] cards) is not available.<ref name="Smith26Aug13">{{cite news|url = http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20130826#feature |title = Freedom and gNewSense 3.0|access-date = 31 August 2013|last = Smith|first = Jesse|date = 26 August 2013| work = [[DistroWatch]]}}</ref>
Since gNewSense's repositories contain only free software, support for hardware which requires firmware and for which no free firmware exists (such as some [[wireless network]] cards) is not available.<ref name="Smith26Aug13">{{cite news|url = http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20130826#feature|title = Freedom and gNewSense 3.0|access-date = 31 August 2013|last = Smith|first = Jesse|date = 26 August 2013|work = [[DistroWatch]]|archive-date = 21 September 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130921193228/http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20130826#feature|url-status = live}}</ref>


By 1 May 2008, [[3D graphics]] and application support had also been removed<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/Deltah |title=Main/Deltah&nbsp;– gNewSense GNU/Linux |publisher=Gnewsense.org |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212070159/http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/Deltah |archive-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> because of licensing issues<ref>[http://bugs.gnewsense.org/Bugs/00129 xserver-xorg: wordy SGI license may not be free] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927044147/http://bugs.gnewsense.org/Bugs/00129 |date=2008-09-27 }} bugs.gnewsense.org</ref> with [[Mesa 3D (OpenGL)|Mesa 3D]]. After January 13, 2009, those issues had been resolved and 3D support became standard starting with the 2.2 release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/2009-01-xorg-glx |title=3D graphics are 100% free software&nbsp;— Free Software Foundation&nbsp;— working together for free software |publisher=Fsf.org |access-date=2011-07-02}}</ref>
By 1 May 2008, [[3D graphics]] and application support had also been removed<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/Deltah |title=Main/Deltah – gNewSense GNU/Linux |publisher=Gnewsense.org |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212070159/http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/Deltah |archive-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> because of licensing issues<ref>[http://bugs.gnewsense.org/Bugs/00129 xserver-xorg: wordy SGI license may not be free] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927044147/http://bugs.gnewsense.org/Bugs/00129 |date=2008-09-27 }} bugs.gnewsense.org</ref> with [[Mesa 3D (OpenGL)|Mesa 3D]]. After January 13, 2009, those issues had been resolved and 3D support became standard starting with the 2.2 release.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/2009-01-xorg-glx |title=3D graphics are 100% free software — Free Software Foundation — working together for free software |publisher=Fsf.org |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-date=21 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121215546/http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/2009-01-xorg-glx |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
In reviewing gNewSense 3.0 in August 2013, Jesse Smith of [[DistroWatch]] noted that many of the applications provided, including [[OpenOffice.org]] 3, Debian's de-blobbed 2.6.32 Linux kernel (based on [[Linux-libre]] ''tools''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bzr.savannah.gnu.org/lh/gnewsense/packages-parkes/linux-2.6/view/head:/debian/README.gNewSense|title=/gnewsense/packages-parkes/linux-2.6 : contents of debian/README.gNewSense at revision 16|work=gnu.org|access-date=31 January 2017}}</ref>), Iceweasel 3.5 and [[GNOME]] 2.30 were quite out of date. Smith concluded this review with the following words:<ref name="Smith26Aug13" />
In reviewing gNewSense 3.0 in August 2013, Jesse Smith of [[DistroWatch]] noted that many of the applications provided, including [[OpenOffice.org]] 3, Debian's de-blobbed 2.6.32 Linux kernel (based on [[Linux-libre]] ''tools''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bzr.savannah.gnu.org/lh/gnewsense/packages-parkes/linux-2.6/view/head:/debian/README.gNewSense|title=/gnewsense/packages-parkes/linux-2.6 : contents of debian/README.gNewSense at revision 16|work=gnu.org|access-date=31 January 2017|archive-date=16 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316003618/http://bzr.savannah.gnu.org/lh/gnewsense/packages-parkes/linux-2.6/view/head:/debian/README.gNewSense|url-status=live}}</ref>), Iceweasel 3.5 and [[GNOME]] 2.30 were quite out of date. Smith concluded this review with the following words:<ref name="Smith26Aug13" />


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Generally speaking, I was happy with gNewSense 3.0. Being based on Debian, the distribution can be counted on to provide both stability and amazing performance. The distribution is lean, fast and uncluttered. The flip side to this is gNewSense's system installer and default package management tools are geared more toward experienced users and will probably provide a steep learning curve to novice Linux users. Not much is automated and there is a minimum of hand holding. The main feature of gNewSense, the lack of proprietary software, is also a double-edged blade. On the one hand, it means the entire operating system can be audited, modified and redistributed. This is great from the perspective of software freedom. The fact that the distribution can play most multimedia formats and handled Flash content fairly well is a testament of the power of free and open source software. The one problem I ran into with gNewSense's software policy was with regards to my wireless network card. Most distributions ship with the non-free Intel firmware, but gNewSense doesn't include it and this means the distribution isn't a good fit with my laptop. It is, on the other hand , a great match with my desktop system.
Generally speaking, I was happy with gNewSense 3.0. Being based on Debian, the distribution can be counted on to provide both stability and amazing performance. The distribution is lean, fast and uncluttered. The flip side to this is gNewSense's system installer and default package management tools are geared more toward experienced users and will probably provide a steep learning curve to novice Linux users. Not much is automated and there is a minimum of hand holding. The main feature of gNewSense, the lack of proprietary software, is also a double-edged blade. On the one hand, it means the entire operating system can be audited, modified and redistributed. This is great from the perspective of software freedom. The fact that the distribution can play most multimedia formats and handled Flash content fairly well is a testament of the power of free and open source software. The one problem I ran into with gNewSense's software policy was with regards to my wireless network card. Most distributions ship with the non-free Intel firmware, but gNewSense doesn't include it and this means the distribution isn't a good fit with my laptop. It is, on the other hand, a great match with my desktop system.
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


[[Richard Stallman]], founder and former president of the [[Free Software Foundation]], said he used gNewSense in January 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=http://richard.stallman.usesthis.com/ |title=An interview with Richard Stallman |publisher=Richard.stallman.usesthis.com |date=2010-01-23 |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175618/http://richard.stallman.usesthis.com/ |archive-date=2011-07-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and he was still using it in April 2014.<ref>{{cite web|author=Vito Gentile |url=https://www.html.it/articoli/gnulinux-meeting-2014-richard-stallman-e-approdato-a-palermo/ |title=GNU/Linux Meeting 2014: Richard Stallman approda a Palermo |trans-title=GNU / Linux Meeting 2014: Richard Stallman has landed in Palermo |language=it |publisher=HTML.it |access-date=2014-04-19}}</ref> Since then Stallman has switched to [[Trisquel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html|title=How I do my Computing|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref>
[[Richard Stallman]], founder and former president of the [[Free Software Foundation]], said he used gNewSense on a Lemote Yeeloong laptop in January 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=http://richard.stallman.usesthis.com/ |title=An interview with Richard Stallman |publisher=Richard.stallman.usesthis.com |date=2010-01-23 |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175618/http://richard.stallman.usesthis.com/ |archive-date=2011-07-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and he was still using it in April 2014.<ref>{{cite web |author=Vito Gentile |url=https://www.html.it/articoli/gnulinux-meeting-2014-richard-stallman-e-approdato-a-palermo/ |title=GNU/Linux Meeting 2014: Richard Stallman approda a Palermo |trans-title=GNU / Linux Meeting 2014: Richard Stallman has landed in Palermo |language=it |publisher=HTML.it |access-date=2014-04-19 |archive-date=5 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005213355/https://www.html.it/articoli/gnulinux-meeting-2014-richard-stallman-e-approdato-a-palermo/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then Stallman has switched to [[Trisquel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html|title=How I do my Computing|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410035339/https://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


Serdar Yegulalp reviewed gNewSense for InfoWorld.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3067280/free-as-can-be-gnewsense-is-true-gnu-linux.html|title=Free as can be: gNewSense is true GNU Linux|first=Serdar|last=Yegulalp|date=May 9, 2016|website=InfoWorld}}</ref> He is said: {{quote|The base of gNewSense is the Debian distribution, which already excludes proprietary binary blobs and unfree software but provides access to them via repositories. But gNewSense goes further: It doesn't even include access to such software in its repositories. Its documentation also includes only material that's compatible with the GNU Free Documentation License.}}
Serdar Yegulalp reviewed gNewSense for InfoWorld.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3067280/free-as-can-be-gnewsense-is-true-gnu-linux.html|title=Free as can be: gNewSense is true GNU Linux|first=Serdar|last=Yegulalp|date=May 9, 2016|website=InfoWorld|access-date=12 August 2019|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531074508/https://www.infoworld.com/article/3067280/free-as-can-be-gnewsense-is-true-gnu-linux.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He is said: {{quote|The base of gNewSense is the Debian distribution, which already excludes proprietary binary blobs and unfree software but provides access to them via repositories. But gNewSense goes further: It doesn't even include access to such software in its repositories. Its documentation also includes only material that's compatible with the GNU Free Documentation License.}}


In the post on Network World of gNewSense 3.1 in February 2014, Bryan Lunduke reviewed this Linux distribution with following words:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2226377/gnewsense-3-1--the-fsf-approved-linux-distro-that-s-stuck-in-2010.html|title=gNewSense 3.1: The FSF-approved Linux distro that's stuck in 2010|first=Bryan|last=Lunduke|date=February 19, 2014|website=Network World}}</ref> {{quote|In fact, the stock installation of gNewSense{{snd}} thanks, in large part, to using older and lighter versions of popular software{{snd}} is incredibly fast and astoundingly un-taxing on your hardware. The whole system, when logged in with no additional software running, uses roughly 105&nbsp;MB of RAM. So this plucky little distro will perform well on even modest hardware.}}
In the post on Network World of gNewSense 3.1 in February 2014, Bryan Lunduke reviewed this Linux distribution with following words:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2226377/gnewsense-3-1--the-fsf-approved-linux-distro-that-s-stuck-in-2010.html|title=gNewSense 3.1: The FSF-approved Linux distro that's stuck in 2010|first=Bryan|last=Lunduke|date=February 19, 2014|website=Network World|access-date=12 August 2019|archive-date=12 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812175545/https://www.networkworld.com/article/2226377/gnewsense-3-1--the-fsf-approved-linux-distro-that-s-stuck-in-2010.html|url-status=live}}</ref> {{quote|In fact, the stock installation of gNewSense{{snd}} thanks, in large part, to using older and lighter versions of popular software{{snd}} is incredibly fast and astoundingly un-taxing on your hardware. The whole system, when logged in with no additional software running, uses roughly 105MB of RAM. So this plucky little distro will perform well on even modest hardware.}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 130: Line 133:
* [[List of distributions based on Debian]]
* [[List of distributions based on Debian]]
* [[GNU/Linux naming controversy]]
* [[GNU/Linux naming controversy]]
* [[Trisquel]]
* [[Parabola GNU/Linux-libre]]
* [[Uruk GNU/Linux]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 141: Line 141:
* {{official|http://www.gnewsense.org}}
* {{official|http://www.gnewsense.org}}
* {{DistroWatch|gnewsense|gNewSense}}
* {{DistroWatch|gnewsense|gNewSense}}

{{Linux distributions}}
{{Linux distributions}}


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[[Category:Debian-based distributions]]
[[Category:Debian-based distributions]]
[[Category:Free software only Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Free software only Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Operating system distributions bootable from read-only media]]
[[Category:Operating system distributions bootable from read-only media]]

Latest revision as of 14:14, 15 November 2024

gNewSense
gNewSense 4.0
DeveloperCurrent: Matt Lee[1]
former: Sam Geeraerts, K.Goetz, Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working statediscontinued[2]
Initial releaseNovember 2, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-11-02)
Latest release4.0 Edit this on Wikidata[3] / 2 May 2016; 8 years ago (2 May 2016)
Latest preview4.0 Alpha 1[4] / 2 December 2014; 10 years ago (2014-12-02)[4]
Repository
Update methodlong term support
Package managerapt (standard), Synaptic (Gtk+ frontend), dpkg (low-level system)
Platformsamd64, i386, Loongson
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux)
UserlandGNU
Default
user interface		GNOME
LicenseFSDG
Official websitewww.gnewsense.org

gNewSense was a Linux distribution, active from 2006 to 2016. It was based on Debian, and developed with sponsorship from the Free Software Foundation. Its goal was user-friendliness, but with all proprietary (e.g. binary blobs) and non-free software removed. The Free Software Foundation considered gNewSense to be composed entirely of free software.[5][6]

gNewSense took a relatively strict stance against proprietary software. For example, any documentation that gave instructions on installing proprietary software was excluded.[7]

gNewSense's last release was made in 2016 and it has not had a supported version since 2018. DistroWatch classifies gNewSense as "discontinued".[2]

History

[edit]

The project was launched by Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley in 2006. gNewSense was originally based on Ubuntu. With the 1.0 release, the Free Software Foundation provided assistance to gNewSense.[8]

With no releases in two years, on 8 August 2011, DistroWatch classified gNewSense as "dormant". By September 2012 DistroWatch had changed the status to "active" again, and on 6 August 2013, the first version directly based on Debian, gNewSense 3 "Parkes", was released.[2][9][10][11]

There have been several indications that it may be restarted, including a website announcement in 2019, but the project has remained inactive, with no releases since 2016. DistroWatch returned it to "dormant" status again in 2019 and "discontinued" by 2022.[1][2]

As of 13 April 2021, the home page of the project's website displayed a blank page with a meme labelling the Free Software Foundation a cult. After a short time, the website then redirected to the home page of the PureOS website.[12]

However, as of June 2021, it now redirects to the FSF's list of Free/Libre distros.[13]

Technical aspects

[edit]
A stylized graphic of a tree
gNewSense logo, used from 2007 to 2013

By default gNewSense uses GNOME. The graphical user interface can be customized with the user's choice of X display manager, window managers, and other desktop environments available to install through its hosted repositories.[14]

The Ubiquity installer allows installing to the hard disk from within the Live CD environment without the need for restarting the computer prior to installation.[15]

Besides standard system tools and other small applications, gNewSense comes installed with the following software: the LibreOffice productivity suite,[16] the GNOME Web internet browser, the Empathy instant messenger, and the GIMP for editing photos and other raster graphics. Common software development tools including the GCC are installed by default.[17]

Installation

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The Live CD can be used to run the operating system and to install onto disk. CD images are available for download.[18]

Versions

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gNewSense has made four major releases:

Version Code name Release date Supported until Based on Supported architectures
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.0 DeltaD 2006-11-02 Old version, no longer maintained: 2008-05-01 Ubuntu 6.06 "Dapper Drake" —
Old version, no longer maintained: 2.0 DeltaH 2008-04-30 Old version, no longer maintained: 2014-01-03 Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron" —
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.0[10][11][19] Parkes 2013-08-06 Old version, no longer maintained: 2015-12-31[20] Debian 6.0 "Squeeze" i386, amd64, Lemote Yeeloong
Old version, no longer maintained: 4.0[16] Ucclia 2016-05-02 Old version, no longer maintained: 2018-05-31[21] Debian 7 "Wheezy" i386, amd64, Lemote Yeeloong
Legend:
Old version
Old version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

In 2016, gNewSense announced that the next version of gNewSense would be 5.0.[22][23]

Comparison with other distributions

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Non-free software repositories are not provided by the gNewSense project, and most non-free documentation and artwork have been removed. While it was based on Ubuntu, the "Universe" package repository was enabled by default. In order to avoid trademark problems that stem from the modification of Mozilla Firefox, gNewSense 1.1 rebranded it as "BurningDog". BurningDog likewise does not offer to install non-free plugins[24] for various web media, such as Adobe Flash. gNewSense 2.0 abandoned BurningDog and adopted the Epiphany web browser (later renamed simply "Web"), a component of GNOME, as its default browser application, and came with recommendations and instructions to optionally compile and run GNU IceCat.[25][26] gNewSense 3.0 retains Web as the default browser, but also comes with a modified version of Debian's Iceweasel that does not offer to access proprietary add-ons.[27]

Debian is another Linux distribution known for strict licensing requirements and adherence to free software principles. While both Debian and gNewSense rigorously exclude non-free software and binary blobs from their official releases, Debian maintains and hosts unofficial repositories of non-free software and firmware binaries, and Debian free software sometimes depends upon or suggests the optional installation of proprietary software, under the theory that users' own informed discretion about the use of such software should be paramount, as expressed in Clause 5 of the Debian Social Contract[28] (though Debian's democratic project management has seen this stance become a source of recurrent controversy[29][30]). gNewSense, by contrast, does not provide any packages which depend on or suggest the use of non-free software, firmware, extensions, or plugins, nor does the gNewSense Project provide convenience-access to proprietary software for any reason, seeing this as an abrogation of the commitment to the development of free software solutions. Similar to Debian, gNewSense policies do not allow including documentation that are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License with invariant sections.[31] This includes many manuals and documentation released by the GNU Project themselves.

While gNewSense was initially forked from Ubuntu (itself originally a fork of Debian) as a result of founding developer Paul O'Malley's prior work with Ubuntu, as of gNewSense 3.0 the distribution has tracked Debian as the base for its software distribution. In part this has been because the Debian Project does carefully disaggregate the free software in its official distribution from the proprietary software it provides courtesy access to.[32] Indeed, many of the packages, including Debian-particular packages (such as Iceweasel and Icedove) ported to gNewSense are simply modified in such a way that they no longer provide such courtesy access to non-free software options.[27]

Limitations

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See also: Software remastering

Since gNewSense's repositories contain only free software, support for hardware which requires firmware and for which no free firmware exists (such as some wireless network cards) is not available.[33]

By 1 May 2008, 3D graphics and application support had also been removed[34] because of licensing issues[35] with Mesa 3D. After January 13, 2009, those issues had been resolved and 3D support became standard starting with the 2.2 release.[36]

Reception

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In reviewing gNewSense 3.0 in August 2013, Jesse Smith of DistroWatch noted that many of the applications provided, including OpenOffice.org 3, Debian's de-blobbed 2.6.32 Linux kernel (based on Linux-libre tools[37]), Iceweasel 3.5 and GNOME 2.30 were quite out of date. Smith concluded this review with the following words:[33]

Generally speaking, I was happy with gNewSense 3.0. Being based on Debian, the distribution can be counted on to provide both stability and amazing performance. The distribution is lean, fast and uncluttered. The flip side to this is gNewSense's system installer and default package management tools are geared more toward experienced users and will probably provide a steep learning curve to novice Linux users. Not much is automated and there is a minimum of hand holding. The main feature of gNewSense, the lack of proprietary software, is also a double-edged blade. On the one hand, it means the entire operating system can be audited, modified and redistributed. This is great from the perspective of software freedom. The fact that the distribution can play most multimedia formats and handled Flash content fairly well is a testament of the power of free and open source software. The one problem I ran into with gNewSense's software policy was with regards to my wireless network card. Most distributions ship with the non-free Intel firmware, but gNewSense doesn't include it and this means the distribution isn't a good fit with my laptop. It is, on the other hand, a great match with my desktop system.

Richard Stallman, founder and former president of the Free Software Foundation, said he used gNewSense on a Lemote Yeeloong laptop in January 2010[38] and he was still using it in April 2014.[39] Since then Stallman has switched to Trisquel.[40]

Serdar Yegulalp reviewed gNewSense for InfoWorld.[41] He is said:

The base of gNewSense is the Debian distribution, which already excludes proprietary binary blobs and unfree software but provides access to them via repositories. But gNewSense goes further: It doesn't even include access to such software in its repositories. Its documentation also includes only material that's compatible with the GNU Free Documentation License.

In the post on Network World of gNewSense 3.1 in February 2014, Bryan Lunduke reviewed this Linux distribution with following words:[42]

In fact, the stock installation of gNewSense – thanks, in large part, to using older and lighter versions of popular software – is incredibly fast and astoundingly un-taxing on your hardware. The whole system, when logged in with no additional software running, uses roughly 105MB of RAM. So this plucky little distro will perform well on even modest hardware.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Lee, Matt. "Next Steps for gNewSense". www.gnewsense.org. Archived from the original on 12 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "DistroWatch.com: gNewSense". Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  3. ^ "[gNewSense-users] gNewSense 4.0 released". Lists.nongnu.org. 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Ucclia alpha 1". gNewSense-dev mailing list. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  5. ^ "List of Free GNU/Linux Distributions - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation". Gnu.org. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  6. ^ Lee, Matt (2019). "gNewSense". www.gnewsense.org. Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019. Hello, I'm Matt Lee, I've recently taken over maintaining gNewSense from Sam [..] I'm Matt Lee: former FSF campaigns manager, [..] I have a vision for desktop GNU/Linux that is unfulfilled.
  7. ^ "Community guidelines – gNewSense GNU/Linux". Wiki.gnewsense.org. 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  8. ^ "gNewSense 1.0 released – Free Software Foundation". Fsf.org. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  9. ^ Goetz, K. (12 October 2011). "News". gNewSense. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  10. ^ a b "FAQ – gNewSense GNU/Linux". gNewSense. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  11. ^ a b Sneddon, Joey (8 August 2013). "gNewSense 3 Released, Is No Longer Based on Ubuntu". OMG Ubuntu. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  12. ^ "gNewSense". gNewSense. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  13. ^ "gNewSense". gnewsense.org. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  14. ^ Introduction to the Desktop Environment Archived 2014-07-27 at the Wayback Machine gnewsense.org
  15. ^ Using the Live CD Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine gnewsense.org
  16. ^ a b Larabel, Michael (6 May 2016). "FSF-Approved gNewSense 4 GNU/Linux Distribution Released - Phoronix". Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  17. ^ Using gNewSense Archived 2014-07-27 at the Wayback Machine gnewsense.org
  18. ^ "Download - gNewSense GNU/Linux". Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  19. ^ Freedom and gNewSense 3.0 Archived 12 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine, DistroWatch Weekly
  20. ^ "Re: [Gnewsense-dev] Likely EoL date for gNewSense 3.1". lists.nongnu.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Release of gNewSense 4 (beta) codenamed Ucclia | Trisquel GNU/Linux - Run free!". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  22. ^ "[Gnewsense-dev] gNewSense 5". lists.nongnu.org. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  23. ^ "gNewSense 5 Hopes To Be A Speedier Release Of The FSF-Approved Linux OS - Phoronix". www.phoronix.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  24. ^ "gNewSense Official Website | Main / PressRelease20070122". Gnewsense.org. 22 January 2007. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  25. ^ "gNewSense MainRepo (old)". Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  26. ^ "gNewSense 3.0 IceCat Compile Instructions". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  27. ^ a b "gNewSense 3.0 Documentation, Differences with Debian". Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  28. ^ "Debian Social Contract". www.debian.org. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  29. ^ "General Resolution: Status of the non-free section". www.debian.org. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  30. ^ "General Resolution: Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel". www.debian.org. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  31. ^ "LicenceInformationUpdate - gNewSense GNU/Linux". Gnewsense.org. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  32. ^ "gNewSense FAQ". Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  33. ^ a b Smith, Jesse (26 August 2013). "Freedom and gNewSense 3.0". DistroWatch. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  34. ^ "Main/Deltah – gNewSense GNU/Linux". Gnewsense.org. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  35. ^ xserver-xorg: wordy SGI license may not be free Archived 2008-09-27 at the Wayback Machine bugs.gnewsense.org
  36. ^ "3D graphics are 100% free software — Free Software Foundation — working together for free software". Fsf.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  37. ^ "/gnewsense/packages-parkes/linux-2.6 : contents of debian/README.gNewSense at revision 16". gnu.org. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  38. ^ "An interview with Richard Stallman". Richard.stallman.usesthis.com. 23 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  39. ^ Vito Gentile. "GNU/Linux Meeting 2014: Richard Stallman approda a Palermo" [GNU / Linux Meeting 2014: Richard Stallman has landed in Palermo] (in Italian). HTML.it. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  40. ^ "How I do my Computing". Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  41. ^ Yegulalp, Serdar (9 May 2016). "Free as can be: gNewSense is true GNU Linux". InfoWorld. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  42. ^ Lunduke, Bryan (19 February 2014). "gNewSense 3.1: The FSF-approved Linux distro that's stuck in 2010". Network World. Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
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