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Links to Other Free Software Sites

To help promote knowledge of free software that isn't GNU software distributed by the FSF, we have collected the following links to other web sites that contain free software, or is directly related to the issue of free software.

We do not have links to web sites of the well-known GNU/Linux system distributions, or to the well-known BSD system distributions, because all those sites explicitly describe, and facilitate access to, various non-free programs. We would be glad to know of other Free Software web sites that we could link to here.

The FSF is not responsible for the content of other web sites, or how up-to-date their content is.

Free GNU/Linux distributions

These are all GNU/Linux distributions we know of which consist entirely of free software, and whose main distribution sites distribute only free software. If a distribution does not appear in this list, there's a small chance that it qualifies and we do not know it; however, almost certainly it contains or distributes non-free software. Unfortunately, the most well-known distributions do this. However, some distributions are making efforts toward a completely free system and we thank them for their on-going work to achieve that goal.

We would especially like to know of other GNU/Linux distributions that have a policy not to include, or recommend, non-free software. Please contact us about such distros at <gnu@gnu.org>.

All of the distributions that follow are installable to a computer hard drive and most can be run live. They are listed in no particular order.

  • gNewSense, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian and Ubuntu, with sponsorship from the FSF.
  • Ututo, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo. It was the first fully free GNU/Linux system recognized by the GNU Project.
  • Dynebolic, a GNU/Linux distribution that places special emphasis on audio and video editing.
  • Musix GNU+Linux, a GNU+Linux distribution based on Knoppix, with special emphasis on audio production.
  • BLAG, BLAG Linux and GNU, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Fedora.
  • GNUstep, a GNU/Linux distribution using the GNUStep desktop. Its initial purpose was to serve as a free implementation of the OpenStep framework.

Other free operating systems

We would especially like to know of other free operating systems that have a policy not to include, or recommend, non-free software. Developers of such operating systems that wish us to be aware of their system should contact <gnu@gnu.org>.

Collections of free software

Free software documentation

The documentation at these sites may be older than the latest versions distributed by GNU.

Unofficial GNU sites

Free knowledge & free culture

Organizations related to free software

Sites about the use and development of free software

Companies that support free software development, and exclusively free software development

Organizations that work for freedom in computer development and electronic communications

  • OpenCores

    The OpenCores project exists to further the aims of the Open IP Core definition, which has the following tenets: information on using the hardware must be available; the design of the hardware must be available; design software for hardware must be available.

  • chillingeffects.org

    Chilling Effects is a collection point for cease and desist notices concerning online activity — we invite visitors to enter C&Ds they have received or sent. The website collects the C&Ds in a searchable database and hyperlinks them to explanations of the legal issues.

  • The League for Programming Freedom

    The League for Programming Freedom is an organization that opposes software patents and user interface copyrights.

  • Free Protocols Foundation

    The Free Protocols Foundation (FPF) is an independent public forum, dedicated to the support of patent-free protocols.

  • Electronic Frontier Foundation

    EFF, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working in the public interest to protect fundamental civil liberties, including privacy and freedom of expression, in the arena of computers and the Internet.

  • Electronic Privacy Information Center

    EPIC is a public interest research center in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and constitutional values.

  • Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility

    CPSR is a public-interest alliance of computer scientists and others concerned about the impact of computer technology on society. We work to influence decisions regarding the development and use of computers because those decisions have far-reaching consequences and reflect our basic values and priorities.

  • American Civil Liberties Union

    The American Civil Liberties Union is the nation's foremost advocate of individual rights — litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom in the United States.

  • Global Internet LibertyCampaign

    The GILC comprises of members from American Civil Liberties Union, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Human Rights Watch, the Internet Society, Privacy International, the Association des Utilisateurs d'Internet, and other civil liberties and human rights organizations. They advocate the prohibition of censorship of on-line communication, and insist that on-line free expression should not be restricted by indirect means such as excessively restrictive governmental or private controls over computer hardware or software, telecommunications infrastructure, or other essential components of the Internet.

  • P2P United

    This site fights legislation to ban peer to peer software.

  • Electronic Frontiers Australia

    Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc. (EFA) is a non-profit national organisation representing Internet users concerned with on-line freedoms and rights.

Hosting

These sites provide hosting for free software packages, focused on source code. (We don't list other well-known hosting sites since they have advertisements or other encouragement for proprietary software. As usual, contact us at <webmasters@gnu.org> if you have suggestions to add to the list.)

  • Savannah, the hosting site provided by GNU for both GNU and non-GNU packages. (More info.)
  • Gna, the hosting site provided by FSF France, with support from the French company Free.

In contrast, these sites offers general hosting for domains, including email and web support, with an emphasis on the libre philosophy. (They are not directly focused on software development.)

  • sfccp.net, the San Francisco Community Colocation Project provides a location for non-profit organizations to host their own servers.
  • mjzhosting.net, with a special interest in aiding any person, project or collective interested in radical social change (“ … principles of production and distribution involved with free software development—in terms of the visions of social organization qua hospitality it reflects and the relatively successful examples of praxis it represents—should be considered nothing short of a prelude to radicality … ”)

News about free software

These sites offer updated news about free software and (in some cases) GNU software.

  • news.northxsouth.com, news about free software in Latin America.
  • GNUticias, news about free software and the GNU Project (in Spanish).
  • CodePublic, web site conjuctive, aggregates free software under GNU GPL.

GPLv3

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