10 GNU/GPL programs you can't live Version 1.

0
without July 13, 2005

By Mellonfire

Takeaway
In this download, we introduce you to 10 GNU/GPL programs you can't do without if your operating system of choice is
UNIX-based.

GNU Project
You may already have heard of the GNU Project, and you may vaguely remember reading various notices referencing the
GNU and the GPL in software you use regularly. But do you really know what the GNU Project does, or how extensive an
impact its software has on your daily life?
The GNU Project (the name's an acronym which stands for "GNU's Not Unix") creates sophisticated, user-friendly
software that users may freely use, modify, redistribute, even sell. This license is called the General Public License, or
GPL. GNU/GPL software is commonly used in combination with the open-source Linux kernel to create the free, open-
source GNU/Linux operating system, and most major Linux distros use GNU software.
In this download, we introduce you to 10 GNU/GPL programs you can't do without if your operating system of choice is
UNIX-based. Six of these are developed by the GNU Project and licensed under the GPL; the remaining four are
developed by third-party projects and licensed under terms similar (but not identical) to the GPL.

Program Description Features License

Bash A sophisticated command
shell that can be used for
launching programs or
scripting tasks in the GNU
environment.
GNOME A powerful, easy to use
graphical desktop
environment for the X-
Windows system.
GnuPG A tool to protect individual
privacy by encrypting files and
email messages using
unbreakable cryptographic
algorithms.
GZip A utility that enables more
efficient data storage by
compressing files, thereby
saving space and making file
transfers easier.
• POSIX compliance GNU General
• Command-line completion Public License
• Job control
• Compatibility with sh shell scripts
• A complete desktop environment for *NIX, GNU General
with multimedia, Web browsing, office Public License
applications and system maintenance tools
• Compatibility with Windows files
• Available in multiple languages
• Includes support for handicapped users
• OpenPGP compliance GNU General
• Supports wide variety of encryption routines, Public License
including Blowfish, DSA, RSA, SHA-1 and El-
Jamal
• Supports key retrieval from online key servers
• Offers better/faster compression than GNU General
zip/unzip Public License

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Copyright ©2005 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.
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10 GNU/GPL programs you can't live without
Program Description
GCC A developer toolkit containing
a powerful C compiler and
associated tools.
Samba A suite of tools to improve
interoperability between
Windows and *NIX systems,
by making file and printer
sharing possible between
them.
Sendmail A sophisticated mail transfer
agent that accepts mail and
delivers it to the remote host.
Vim The de facto *NIX text editor,
suitable for editing a variety of
ASCII file formats.
Apache A standards-compliant Web
server used by a majority of
Internet Web sites.
OpenSSH A suite of remote access tools
that improve network security
by encrypting communications
between hosts.
Copyright ©2005 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.
For more downloads and a free TechRepublic membership, please visit http://techrepublic.com.com/2001-6240-0.html
Features License
• ANSI C compliant GNU General
• Supports C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Public License
and Ada
• Can access local or network Windows shares GNU General
through *NIX Public License
• SMB- and CIFS compliance
• Supports Windows trust accounts,
domain/network logon and user/share level
security
• Includes Web-based configuration tool
• Mail filtering Sendmail
• On-the-fly address rewriting License
• Anti-spam features
• Multi-byte text support Vim License
• Automatic text completion
• Command history buffer
• Macro support
• Built-in scripting language
• Data recovery features
• Syntax highlighting
• HTTP 1.1 compliance Apache License
• Plug-in architecture for external modules
(DSO)
• Supports CGI, SSI and HTTP-Authentication
• Can host multiple virtual hosts on the same
system
• Encrypts all traffic between hosts, including BSD License
passwords
• Provides secure alternatives to telnet, ftp
and rcp
• Supports creation of secure "tunnels"
between hosts
• Can use both public key and one-time
password authentication
• Supports 3DES, Blowfish and AES
encryption
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10 GNU/GPL programs you can't live without

Additional resources
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• Ease Linux file tasks with these 10 GNU Midnight Commander tips (Download)
• Master the power of the Linux GUI desktop (Download)
• Could e-mail be the killer app that drives Linux adoption? (Download)

Version history
Version: 1.0
Published: July 13, 2005

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Copyright ©2005 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.
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