• Your Comprehensive Guide to Exclusively GNU-Supported Free Software
  • Understanding What "GNU Supported" Really Means
  • Step 1: Start with a Fully Free GNU/Linux Distribution
    • Recommended Free Distributions for PCs and Workstations
    • Why These and Not Ubuntu/Fedora/Debian?
  • Step 2: Essential Free Software Replacements
    • Office & Productivity
    • Graphics & Media
    • Internet & Communication
    • Development & Technical
  • Step 3: Understanding the High Priority Projects
    • High Priority Free Software Projects
  • Step 4: Advanced Tools for the Committed Free Software User
    • GNU Guix: The Functional Package Manager
    • Using Channels for Extended Software
  • Step 5: Finding More Software
    • The Free Software Directory
    • Checking Software Freedom
  • Step 6: Hardware Considerations
    • Finding Compatible Hardware
  • Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
    • 1. The "Non-Free Firmware" Problem
    • 2. Dependency Chains
    • 3. Web Services
  • Your First Steps: A Practical Checklist
    • Week 1: Preparation
    • Week 2: Installation
    • Week 3: Setup
    • Month 1-3: Deepening
  • Getting Help and Community
  • Conclusion

Your Comprehensive Guide to Exclusively GNU-Supported Free Software

Welcome to the world of free software, where “free” refers to liberty, not price. This guide will help you transition to an exclusively free software environment endorsed by the GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation (FSF).

Understanding What “GNU Supported” Really Means

Before diving in, it’s crucial to understand that when we talk about “GNU-supported software,” we’re referring to software that respects your four essential freedoms:

• Freedom 0: Run the program as you wish, for any purpose
• Freedom 1: Study how the program works, and change it to do what you wish
• Freedom 2: Redistribute copies to help others
• Freedom 3: Distribute copies of your modified versions to others

The Free Software Directory is the authoritative source for vetted free software. It contains thousands of programs that have been checked for licensing compliance and technical functionality.

Step 1: Start with a Fully Free GNU/Linux Distribution

The most important decision you’ll make is choosing a distribution (distro) that is endorsed by the GNU Project. These distros follow the GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG), meaning they contain and only propose free software.

Recommended Free Distributions for PCs and Workstations

Here are the fully free distros you can install today:

Quick start: If you’re new to free software, start with Trisquel. It’s designed to be easy to use and works on most hardware.

Why These and Not Ubuntu/Fedora/Debian?

Popular distros like Ubuntu, Fedora, and even standard Debian include non-free firmware, drivers, and software repositories. The FSF maintains a page explaining why certain popular distros aren’t endorsed. To be truly free, you must avoid these.

Step 2: Essential Free Software Replacements

Once you have your free distro installed, you’ll need to know which applications to use. The Free Software Directory maintains a comprehensive collection of replacements for proprietary software.

Office & Productivity

*Note: Thunderbird is not considered free software due to Mozilla’s trademark restrictions

Graphics & Media

Internet & Communication

*Firefox is not free software due to trademark restrictions; IceCat is the freedom-respecting fork

Development & Technical

Step 3: Understanding the High Priority Projects

The FSF maintains a list of High Priority Projects - software areas where free software is critically needed. Supporting these projects helps advance software freedom:

High Priority Free Software Projects

The full list includes 97 high-priority projects that need developers, testers, and users.

Step 4: Advanced Tools for the Committed Free Software User

GNU Guix: The Functional Package Manager

GNU Guix is more than just a package manager - it’s a complete approach to software management that guarantees reproducible environments.

Installation on an existing Linux system:

cd /tmp
wget https://guix.gnu.org/install.sh -O guix-install.sh
chmod +x guix-install.sh
sudo ./guix-install.sh

Basic Guix commands:

# Update package definitions
$ guix pull

# Install a package
$ guix install hello

# Create a reproducible environment
$ guix shell python -- python

# Search for packages
$ guix search libreoffice

Guix is particularly powerful for developers and scientists because it allows you to create isolated, reproducible environments that work identically across different machines.

Using Channels for Extended Software

Guix channels allow you to access specialized software. For scientific computing, you can add the Guix-Science channel:

;; In ~/.config/guix/channels.scm
(append
 (list (channel
        (name 'guix-science)
        (url "https://codeberg.org/guix-science/guix-science.git")))
 %default-channels)

Step 5: Finding More Software

The Free Software Directory

The Free Software Directory is your primary resource for finding free software. You can browse by category:

• Audio (377 packages)
• Business (536 packages)
• Chat (195 packages)
• Database (350 packages)
• Education (248 packages)
• Games (380 packages)
• Graphics (374 packages)
• Library (1,210 packages)
• Security (493 packages)
• Video (231 packages)

Pro tip: Use the search function and filter by license type to find software that meets your specific needs.

Checking Software Freedom

Before installing any software, verify its license. The FSF maintains a list of free software licenses. Safe licenses include:

• GNU General Public License (GPL)
• GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)
• GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL)
• BSD 3-Clause (with restrictions)
• MIT/Expat license

Step 6: Hardware Considerations

Free software only works fully with hardware that doesn’t require proprietary drivers or firmware. The FSF’s Respects Your Freedom (RYF) certification program certifies hardware that works with 100% free software.

Finding Compatible Hardware

• Check the h-node database for hardware compatibility
• Look for RYF-certified products
• Avoid hardware from manufacturers known for proprietary drivers (NVIDIA, Broadcom, some Intel WiFi chips)

Common free-friendly manufacturers:

• ThinkPenguin - Sells RYF-certified computers and accessories
• Technoethical - RYF-certified hardware
• Minifree - Free BIOS and software laptops
• Raptor Computing Systems - POWER9 systems with free firmware

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

1. The “Non-Free Firmware” Problem

Many devices require firmware blobs to function. Free distros exclude these, so some hardware may not work. Solution: Research hardware compatibility before purchasing, or use the h-node database.

2. Dependency Chains

Some free software may recommend non-free dependencies. Solution: Always use packages from your free distro’s official repositories - they’ve been vetted.

3. Web Services

Using a free browser to access non-free web services (Google Docs, Figma, etc.) is a gray area called SaaSS (Service as a Software Substitute). Solution: Use free alternatives like LibreOffice Online, CryptPad, or Nextcloud.

Your First Steps: A Practical Checklist

Week 1: Preparation

• ☐ Read the GNU Philosophy
• ☐ Identify your essential applications
• ☐ Find free replacements using the Free Software Directory
• ☐ Back up your data

Week 2: Installation

• ☐ Choose a free distro (recommended: Trisquel or PureOS)
• ☐ Download the ISO from mirror.fsf.org
• ☐ Verify the checksum for security
• ☐ Create a live USB and test on your hardware
• ☐ Install alongside or replace your current OS

Week 3: Setup

• ☐ Configure your free software replacements
• ☐ Learn GNU Emacs or another free editor
• ☐ Set up GnuPG for email encryption
• ☐ Join free software communities (LibrePlanet, GNU mailing lists)

Month 1-3: Deepening

• ☐ Learn to use the command line effectively
• ☐ Explore GNU Guix for reproducible environments
• ☐ Contribute to a free software project (even just bug reports help!)
• ☐ Upgrade to RYF-certified hardware when possible

Getting Help and Community

The free software community is welcoming and supportive:

• LibrePlanet - Community and conference (libreplanet.org)
• GNU Help - help-gnu@gnu.org mailing list
• FSF Membership - Join at fsf.org/join to support software freedom
• IRC Channels - #gnu, #fsf, #libreplanet on Libera.Chat

Conclusion

Moving to exclusively free software is a journey, not a destination. Start with a free distribution like Trisquel, learn the essential replacements for your daily tools, and gradually deepen your engagement with the free software philosophy. The resources above - particularly the Free Software Directory and the high-priority projects list - will guide you at every step.

Remember: every time you choose free software, you’re supporting a world where software serves users, not the other way around. Welcome to the community of freedom!