Gobuntu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Not to be confused with Goobuntu.
| Gobuntu | |
 |
|
 Gobuntu 8.04, the latest beta release |
|
| Website | Gobuntu official website |
|---|---|
| Company/ developer |
Canonical Ltd. and community contributors |
| OS family | Linux |
| Source model | Free software |
| Latest stable release | 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon)[1] / October 18, 2007 |
| Latest unstable release | 8.04 (Hardy Heron) beta / daily build [1] |
| Update method | APT |
| Package manager | dpkg |
| Supported platforms | i386, AMD64 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic kernel |
| Default user interface | GNOME |
| License | GNU General Public License and other free licenses |
| Working state | Current |
Gobuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system, aiming to provide a distribution consisting entirely of free software.
Contents |
[edit] History and development process
Mark Shuttleworth first mentioned the idea of creating an Ubuntu derivative named Gnubuntu consisting entirely of free software, on November 24, 2005.[2] Due to Richard Stallman's disapproval of the name, the project was later renamed to Ubuntu-libre.[3] Stallman has previously endorsed a distribution based on Ubuntu called gNewSense, and has criticized Ubuntu for using proprietary and non-free software in successive distributions, most notably, Ubuntu 7.04.[4]
While introducing Ubuntu 7.10, Mark Shuttleworth said that it will
| “ | feature a new flavour - as yet unnamed - which takes an ultra-orthodox view of licensing: no firmware, drivers, imagery, sounds, applications, or other content which do not include full source materials and come with full rights of modification, remixing and redistribution. There should be no more conservative home, for those who demand a super-strict interpretation of the "free" in free software.[5] | ” |
Gobuntu was officially announced by Mark Shuttleworth on July 10, 2007,[6], and daily builds of Gobuntu 7.10 began to be publicly released. The initial version, Gobuntu 7.10, was released on October 18, 2007, but only in text-only installer. The first full release is expected to be the Long-Term Release codenamed "Hardy Heron", but, despite an announcement of plans to the contrary[7], the official mirrors do not carry a 8.04 release as of April 26, 2008. This may be related to Shuttleworth's post[8], where he suggests Gobuntu developers might want to concentrate their efforts on the, FSF-approved, gNewSense, instead of Gobuntu, which he considers a failed effort.
[edit] Limitations
Because some drivers, firmware, and "binary blobs" were removed from Gobuntu, it will run on fewer computers than Ubuntu. Canonical states:
| “ | Please note that because running Gobuntu on most laptops and many desktops will be difficult, Gobuntu is intended for experienced Linux enthusiasts at this time.[9] | ” |
[edit] Early Criticism
Release 7.10 initially met with criticism from some free software advocates, since it included Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird, which is not considered to be 100% free software, by the strict definition of GPL, because they include "non-free" artwork.[10]
After some debate on the developer list,[11] this problem was quickly addressed by Canonical, and the non-free programs will be replaced in the upcoming release, Hardy Heron, in which Firefox will be replaced by Epiphany.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Canonical Ltd (April 2008). Gobuntu. Retrieved on 2008-04-25.
- ^ Mark Shuttleworth registers gnubuntu.org (Ubuntu mailing list). Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
- ^ Ubuntu-libre. Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
- ^ Richard Stallman interviewed, endorses gNewSense. Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
- ^ Introducing the Gutsy Gibbon. Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
- ^ Mark Shuttleworth >> Blog Archive >> Gobuntu is… go. Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
- ^ GobuntuHardy - Ubuntu Wiki. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
- ^ Rethinking Gobuntu. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
- ^ Canonical Ltd. (2007). Gobuntu. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
- ^ Mark Pilgrim. Gobuntu has already failed. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
- ^ Firefox and Thunderbird thread, gobuntu-devel mailing list. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
[edit] External links
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