Timeline: Richard Stallman – Pioneer of Free Software

By ibtikAla

  • 1953-Birth of Richard Stallman

    1953-Birth of Richard Stallman
    Born on March 16, 1953, in New York City, Stallman would grow up to become one of the most influential figures in computing history.

  • 1971 – Begins working at MIT AI Lab

    1971 – Begins working at MIT AI Lab
    While still an undergraduate at Harvard, Stallman began working at MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab, where he experienced the collaborative hacker culture that inspired his later philosophies.

  • 1980 – Conflict over Xerox Printer Source Code

    1980 – Conflict over Xerox Printer Source Code
    Stallman’s request for source code to fix a bug in a Xerox laser printer was denied. This moment led him to realize the dangers of proprietary software.

  • 1983 – Announces the GNU Project

    1983 – Announces the GNU Project
    On September 27, 1983, Stallman launched the GNU Project to build a free Unix-like operating system and promote software freedom.

  • 1984 – Leaves MIT to focus on GNU

    1984 – Leaves MIT to focus on GNU
    Stallman resigned from MIT so he could write free software without institutional restrictions, ensuring GNU could remain fully open.

  • 1985 – Publishes the GNU Manifesto

    1985 – Publishes the GNU Manifesto
    The GNU Manifesto outlined his vision for a software ecosystem based on freedom and sharing rather than profit.

  • 1985 – Founds the Free Software Foundation (FSF)

    1985 – Founds the Free Software Foundation (FSF)
    Stallman created the FSF to promote computer user freedoms and support GNU development.

  • 1989 – Releases the GNU General Public License (GPL)

    1989 – Releases the GNU General Public License (GPL)
    The GPL was a revolutionary legal tool that guaranteed software users the freedom to run, study, modify, and share software.

  • 1990 – Launches GNU C Compiler (GCC)

    1990 – Launches GNU C Compiler (GCC)
    GCC became one of the most influential free software tools, widely used in both academia and industry.

  • 1991 – GNU + Linux = Functioning Free OS

    1991 – GNU + Linux = Functioning Free OS
    When Linus Torvalds released the Linux kernel in 1991, it combined with GNU tools to form a fully free operating system.

  • 1999 – Launches Savannah & GNU Savannah

    1999 – Launches Savannah & GNU Savannah
    The FSF launched the Savannah project to host and support free software development online.

  • 2001– Warns against “Tivoization” and DRM

    2001– Warns against “Tivoization” and DRM
    Stallman actively campaigned against hardware restrictions that blocked modified versions of GPL software from running (like in TiVo devices).

  • 2007 – Releases GPLv3

    2007 – Releases GPLv3
    GPL Version 3 was introduced to close loopholes like Tivoization and address software patents.

  • 2019 – Resigns from MIT and FSF leadership

    2019 – Resigns from MIT and FSF leadership
    After controversial comments, Stallman resigned from MIT and stepped down from FSF leadership, though he remained an influential voice.