Computing Atlas

How Computing Was Built
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Pioneer

Richard Stallman

Also Known As rms
Software And Its Engineering

Richard Matthew Stallman, also known by his initials rms, is an American free software movement activist and programmer who campaigns for software to be distributed so that its users have the freedom to use, study, distribute and modify it, a principle he calls free software. Stallman launched the GNU Project in September 1983 to write a Unix-like operating system composed entirely of free software, founded the Free Software Foundation in October 1985, developed the GNU C Compiler and GNU Emacs, and wrote every version of the GNU General Public License. He pioneered the concept of copyleft, using copyright law's own mechanisms to preserve users' rights to use, modify and distribute free software. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Birth Year
1953 1
Birth Date
1953-03-16 1
Nationality
American 1
Award
Grace Murray Hopper Award 2
Award
MacArthur Fellows Program 2
Award
doctor honoris causa from the Pierre and Marie Curie University 2
Award
EFF Award 2
Award
honorary doctorate of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel 2
Award
honorary doctorate of the University of Glasgow 2
Award
Internet Hall of Fame 2
Award
Takeda Awards 2
Award
Yuri Rubinsky Memorial Award 2
Award
honorary doctor of the National University of Córdoba 2
Award
ACM Software System Award 2
Richard Stallman
Filter Results1 entry

Emacs Lisp

Richard Stallman
FAQs

Does free software mean software that costs nothing?

No. Free here refers to liberty, not price.

No. The GNU Project's definition says that free software is a matter of liberty, not price. It asks readers to think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. Richard Stallman campaigns for software to be distributed so that its users have the freedom to use, study, distribute and modify it.
Connections

In Field

Operating Systems, Fields
Source Wikipedia: Richard Stallman

Invented

Emacs Lisp, Programming Languages
Source Wikidata: Emacs Lisp

Long-Form Articles

Why Stallman Insists on GNU Slash Linux, Articles
In the Other Atlases

Nationality

United States

Also in Geography Atlas: the nationality of this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Richard StallmanLead sentence 1tier 2
Quote, Lead sentence 1
Richard Matthew Stallman ( STAWL-mən; born March 16, 1953), also known by his initials rms, is an American free software activist and programmer.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Richard Stallman
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    born March 16, 1953
  • lead sentence, parenthetical birth date
    born March 16, 1953
  • Lead section
    Richard Matthew Stallman ( STAWL-mən; born March 16, 1953), also known by his initials rms, is an American free software activist and programmer.
  • lead sentence, third clause
    also known by his initials rms
  • In Field: Operating Systems, Lead
    Stallman launched the GNU Project in September 1983 to write a Unix-like computer operating system composed entirely of free software.
View the Source
2. Richard Stallman (Wikidata)
  • Wikidata P166: Grace Murray Hopper Award
    Wikidata P166 (award received): Grace Murray Hopper Award.
  • Wikidata P166: MacArthur Fellows Program
    Wikidata P166 (award received): MacArthur Fellows Program.
  • Wikidata P166: doctor honoris causa from the Pierre and Marie Curie University
    Wikidata P166 (award received): doctor honoris causa from the Pierre and Marie Curie University.
  • Wikidata P166: EFF Award
    Wikidata P166 (award received): EFF Award.
  • Wikidata P166: honorary doctorate of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    Wikidata P166 (award received): honorary doctorate of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
  • Wikidata P166: honorary doctorate of the University of Glasgow
    Wikidata P166 (award received): honorary doctorate of the University of Glasgow.
  • Wikidata P166: Internet Hall of Fame
    Wikidata P166 (award received): Internet Hall of Fame.
  • Wikidata P166: Takeda Awards
    Wikidata P166 (award received): Takeda Awards.
  • Wikidata P166: Yuri Rubinsky Memorial Award
    Wikidata P166 (award received): Yuri Rubinsky Memorial Award.
  • Wikidata P166: honorary doctor of the National University of Córdoba
    Wikidata P166 (award received): honorary doctor of the National University of Córdoba.
  • Wikidata P166: ACM Software System Award
    Wikidata P166 (award received): ACM Software System Award.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.