When, as a student, I started to research the Hacker culture I found two main figures that stand as beacon of enlightenment. One of them was Richard Stallman. This man not only is a well-known hacker but he also created the movement of Free Software. Stallman had great influence on me, not only as a hacker but also as a political thinker. I think it's time to learn more about Stallman.

Who is Richard Stallman

Richard Stallman (RMS) is a programmer, activist, and founder of the Free Software Movement. In 1983, he launched the GNU Project to create a free Unix-like operating system and later authored the GNU General Public License (GPL) to protect software freedoms. Stallman founded the Free Software Foundation (FSF) in 1985, advocating for user rights to use, modify, and share software. Known for creating tools like GNU Emacs and GCC, he remains a pivotal figure in software ethics, though his outspoken views have sparked both admiration and controversy.

He was born on March 16, 1953, in New York City to a family of Jewish heritage. He had a difficult relationship with his parents and felt he lacked a proper home. Fascinated by computers from an early age, he read manuals for the IBM 7094 during a summer camp as a pre-teen. Between 1967 and 1969, Stallman attended a Saturday program for high school students at Columbia University and volunteered as a laboratory assistant in the biology department at Rockefeller University. Although he had a keen interest in mathematics and physics, his supervising professor at Rockefeller saw potential in him as a biologist.

Stallman’s first hands-on experience with computers came during high school at the IBM New York Scientific Center. In the summer of 1970, after graduating high school, he was hired to write a numerical analysis program in Fortran. He completed the task in just a few weeks, vowing never to use Fortran again due to his dislike of the language. He spent the rest of the summer creating a text editor in APL and developing a preprocessor for the PL/I programming language on the IBM System/360.

The GNU Project

Stallman initiated in 1983 the GNU Project in response to the growing prevalence of proprietary software, which restricted users from freely using, modifying, and sharing programs. Stallman, who worked at MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab, was accustomed to a collaborative programming culture where source code was openly shared. However, this culture began to erode in the late 1970s and early 1980s as companies adopted restrictive software licenses. A key incident occurred when Stallman was unable to access the source code of a printer driver he wanted to improve, which highlighted the ethical problems of proprietary software and motivated him to take action.

The GNU Project's goal was to develop a completely free and open Unix-like operating system. "GNU" stands for "GNU's Not Unix," reflecting its compatibility with Unix systems while being entirely free software. Stallman envisioned an operating system where users would have the freedom to run, study, modify, and share all its components. He also created the GNU General Public License (GPL) to legally guarantee these freedoms and ensure that any derivative works would remain free.

To achieve its vision, the GNU Project developed free replacements for key Unix tools. These included GNU Emacs (a powerful text editor), GCC (a versatile compiler), and GDB (a debugging tool), among others. While most components were completed, the GNU Hurd kernel faced delays. In the 1990s, the GNU system was combined with the Linux kernel, forming what is commonly known as GNU/Linux, used in distributions like Debian and Ubuntu.

The GNU Project not only provided the foundation for many modern computing systems but also spearheaded the Free Software Movement, advocating for software as a shared, community resource rather than a proprietary product. It remains a cornerstone of the free and open-source software ecosystem.

The Free Software Movement

When Stallman launched the GNU Project, it was the practical foundation that sparked the Free Software Movement. Stallman created the GNU Project to develop a completely free Unix-like operating system, ensuring that users could run, study, modify, and share software without restrictions. This initiative introduced the concept of software freedom as an ethical principle and provided the tools, such as GNU Emacs and GCC, to make it a reality. The creation of the GNU General Public License (GPL) further solidified this connection, as it legally guaranteed these freedoms and established a framework for protecting free software.

Through the GNU Project, Stallman not only produced vital software components but also highlighted the ethical issues surrounding proprietary software, raising awareness and galvanizing support for the Free Software Movement. The success of GNU tools and the eventual collaboration with the Linux kernel (resulting in GNU/Linux) demonstrated the viability of free software, inspiring developers and users worldwide to adopt and advocate for these principles. The GNU Project thus turned the philosophy of free software into a tangible, impactful movement.

Controversy

In 2019, Richard Stallman became embroiled in controversy over comments he made regarding the late Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Marvin Minsky, a prominent AI researcher. During an email discussion at MIT about Epstein’s involvement in sex trafficking and allegations that Minsky had been involved with an underage victim, Stallman argued over the semantics of the situation. He claimed that the term “sexual assault” was misleading if Minsky’s actions were consensual and suggested that Minsky might not have known the victim’s age. Many found his remarks dismissive of the victim's experience, as they appeared to focus on technical language rather than the broader ethical and moral implications of the situation.

Stallman’s comments sparked widespread backlash, both within and beyond the MIT community. Critics accused him of being insensitive to issues of sexual exploitation and human trafficking, with some arguing that his responses minimized the harm done to victims. The uproar led Stallman to resign from his positions at MIT and the Free Software Foundation (FSF) in September 2019. His comments and subsequent resignation intensified debates about the responsibilities of public figures in addressing sensitive topics and their impact on the communities they represent.

Personal Life

Richard Stallman has lived a highly unconventional personal life, often reflecting the principles of simplicity and independence that align with his advocacy for free software. Stallman is known for his eccentric habits, such as living without a permanent address for extended periods and carrying minimal personal belongings, often relying on host accommodations during his travels. He is a vegetarian and has publicly stated his distaste for certain modern conveniences and proprietary technologies, avoiding them whenever possible. Stallman remains unmarried and has described himself as someone who values his autonomy and intellectual pursuits above traditional social conventions.

In 2019, Richard Stallman revealed that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Despite the diagnosis, Stallman continued to work and advocate for free software while undergoing treatment. He expressed optimism about his prognosis, stating that the condition was treatable and that he planned to continue his work once he recovered. Stallman’s health challenges brought attention to his resilience and dedication to his principles, as he remained active in the Free Software Movement even during his battle with cancer.

Stallman's Web Site