- Not to be confused with Goobuntu, a Linux distribution used by Google.
Gobuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system, aiming to provide a distribution consisting entirely of free software.
The project will be officially ended once Gobuntu version 8.04 is released.[2]
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.[3] Due to Richard Stallman's disapproval of the name, the project was later renamed to Ubuntu-libre.[4] 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.[5]
While introducing Ubuntu 7.10, Mark Shuttleworth said that it will
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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.[6] |
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Gobuntu was officially announced by Mark Shuttleworth on July 10, 2007,[7], 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[8], the official mirrors do not carry a 8.04 release as of April 26, 2008. This may be related to Shuttleworth's post[9], where he suggests Gobuntu developers might want to concentrate their efforts on the Free Software Foundation-approved gNewSense instead of Gobuntu, which he considers a failed effort.
On 13 June 2008 Ubuntu Community Manager Jono Bacon announced that the Gobuntu project will end with the release of Gobuntu 8.04 in the near future. He stated:
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The Gobuntu development team would like to announce that after 8.04 release of Gobuntu, the project will aim to merge many of the Gobuntu changes into mainline Ubuntu, such as our "Free Software Only" installer option which only installs software considered free by the Free Software Foundation's definition of software freedom. This installer option now obviates the need for a separate derivative project, and in the interest of reducing the workload of Ubuntu core developers, the Gobuntu project will instead focus on merging as many changes as possible into mainline Ubuntu.[2] |
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Limitations
Because some drivers, firmware, and "binary blobs" were removed from Gobuntu, it will run on fewer computers than Ubuntu. Canonical states:
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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.[10] |
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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.[11]
After some debate on the developer list,[12] 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.
See also
Notes
External links
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