Free Software With a Philosophy Tab

GNU's January 1998 homepage is not shy about values. The title declares "GNU's Not Unix!" and the navigation places Philosophy beside Order, Download, Software, Documentation, What's New, Help GNU, and Mirrors.

The page notes "no gifs due to patent problems," a small technical detail that carries an entire worldview. File formats, licenses, patents, and user freedom are not side issues. They are part of the project.

Historically, this page matters because it shows software as moral argument and practical distribution at the same time. You can download tools, read documentation, order materials, help the project, and study the philosophy behind it.

The design is plain, but the structure is deliberate. GNU is not merely offering code; it is offering a way to think about ownership, cooperation, and rights. The page makes clear that free software was never just about price. It was about power.