The Life of Richard Stallman

By rosaliadavino

  • Birth

    Birth
    Richard Matthew Stallman was born on March 16, 1953, in New York City, USA.

  • MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab

    MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab
    Stallman joined the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab as a programmer in 1971.

  • Education at Harvard University

    Education at Harvard University
    Stallman attended Harvard University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in physics in 1974.

  • Emacs

    Emacs
    Stallman developed the Emacs text editor in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which became one of the most widely used text editors in the programming community. youtube

  • Establishment of Copyleft Principle

    Establishment of Copyleft Principle
    Stallman introduced the concept of copyleft, a strategy to ensure that software remains free by requiring modified versions to be distributed under the same terms.

  • Hurd Kernel

    Hurd Kernel
    Stallman initiated the development of the Hurd kernel as part of the GNU Project, aiming to create a free software alternative to Unix kernels.

  • Free Software Definition

    Free Software Definition
    Stallman formulated the Free Software Definition, outlining the essential freedoms that define free software, in the early 1980s. youtube

  • GNU Project Announcement

    GNU Project Announcement
    n 1983, Stallman announced the GNU Project, with the goal of creating a free Unix-like operating system.

  • Development of Various GNU Utilities

    Development of Various GNU Utilities
    Stallman contributed to the development of numerous GNU utilities, including GNU Make, GCC, and GNU Debugger (GDB).

  • Free Software Foundation (FSF)

    Free Software Foundation (FSF)
    Stallman founded the Free Software Foundation in 1985 to support the development and promotion of free software.

  • Advocacy for Free Software

    Advocacy for Free Software
    Stallman became a prominent advocate for free software, campaigning for the adoption of free software licenses and promoting the principles of software freedom.

  • GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)

    GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)
    Stallman initiated the development of GCC, a compiler system for programming languages, in 1987.

  • GNU General Public License (GPL)

    GNU General Public License (GPL)
    Stallman authored the GNU General Public License in 1989, a widely used free software license that ensures software remains free and open-source.

  • Recognition and Awards

    Recognition and Awards
    Stallman received various awards and honors for his contributions to the free software movement, including the ACM Grace Hopper Award and the MacArthur Fellowship.

  • Creation of the Free Software Directory

    Creation of the Free Software Directory
    Stallman initiated the creation of the Free Software Directory, a comprehensive catalog of free software programs, in 1998.

  • Resignation from MIT and FSF

    Resignation from MIT and FSF
    Stallman resigned from his positions at MIT and the FSF following controversy over his comments on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and related issues.