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GNU software
Prominent components of the GNU system include
the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC), the GNU C Library (glibc), the
GNU Emacs text editor, and the GNOME desktop environment.
Many GNU programs have been ported to a multitude of other operating
systems, including various proprietary platforms such as Microsoft
Windows and Mac OS X. They are often installed on proprietary Unix
systems as replacements for the proprietary utilities originally
included. However, this practice is controversial: these GNU
component programs were developed with the goal of replacing entire
proprietary UNIX systems with free software, not enhancing these
systems.
Many GNU programs have been tested against their proprietary Unix
counterparts and shown as being more reliable.
As of 2007, there are a total of 319 GNU packages hosted on the
official GNU development site.
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