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<title>List of Free GNU/Linux Distributions
- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
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<h2>Free GNU/Linux distributions</h2>
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<blockquote>
<p><em><span class="highlight">The FSF <a href="http://www.fsf.org/">Free
Software Foundation</a> is not responsible for other web sites, or how
up-to-date their information is.</span></em></p>

<p>Below are 
</blockquote>

<p>This page lists the complete,
ready-to-use <a href="/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html">GNU/Linux</a>
distributions that are
entirely <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">free</a> as in freedom.
All of the distributions that follow are installable to a
computer's hard drive; most can be run live.</p>

<p>The Free Software Foundation recommends and endorses these GNU/Linux
distros, although we know do not try to judge or compare them based on any
criterion other than freedom; therefore, we list them in alphabetical
order.  We encourage you to read these brief descriptions and to
consult their respective web sites and other information to choose the
one best for you.</p>

<p>These distros are ready-to-use full systems whose developers have made
a commitment to follow the 
<a href="/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html">Guidelines
for Free System Distributions</a>.  They have a firm policy commitment
to only include  This means these distros will
include, and only propose propose, exclusively free software.  They will reject non-free
nonfree applications, non-free nonfree programming platforms, non-free nonfree drivers, or
non-free
nonfree firmware “blobs”.  If by mistake they do “blobs”, nonfree games, and any other
nonfree software, as well as nonfree manuals or documentation.</p>

<p>If one of these distros ever does include
any, they remove or propose anything nonfree,
that must have happened by mistake, and the developers are committed to
removing it.  If you have found such non-free find nonfree software or documentation in one of
these distributions, you can
<a href="/help/gnu-bucks.html">report the issue problem, and earn GNU
Bucks</a>.</p>

<p>Other distributions are making efforts to move toward a completely
free system.  We thank them Bucks</a>, 
while we inform the developers so they can fix the problem.</p>

<p>Fixing freedom bugs is an ethical requirement for their ongoing work to achieve listing a distro
here; therefore, we list only distros with a development team that has
told us it will remove any nonfree software that goal, might be found in
them.  Usually the team consists of volunteers, and hope they don't make
legally binding commitments to users; but if we find out a distro is
not properly maintained, we will de-list it.</p>

<p>We hope the other existing GNU/Linux distributions will become
entirely free software so that we can list them here some day.</p> here.  If you wish to
improve the state of free distros, helping to develop an existing free
distro contributes more than starting a new one.</p>

<p><strong>All of the distributions that follow are installable to a
computer's hard drive and drive; most can be run live.</strong></p> live.  Not all hardware works
in the free world; each distro's site should say which hardware it
supports.</strong></p>

<p>We cannot make a general recommendation endorse these distros only for using one over another,
so they are listed here freedom.  We do not try to judge
or compare these distros based on any other criterion; therefore, we
list them in alphabetical order.  We encourage suggest you to read
these brief descriptions and even more to explore consult their
respective web sites and other information to choose the judge which one best is most
convenient for you.</p>

<!-- Do not add or remove anything from this list without a lot of
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<table class="listing">
  <thead><tr>
    <th>Distribution</th>
    <th>Description</th>
  </tr></thead>

<tr class="odd">
   <td><a href="http://www.blagblagblag.org/">
       <img src="/graphics/distros-blag.jpg" alt="BLAG Linux and GNU" /></a></td>
   <td>BLAG Linux and GNU, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Fedora.</td></tr>

 <tr class="even">
   <td><a href="http://www.dragora.org/en/index.html">
       <img src="/graphics/distros-dragora.png" alt="Dragora" /></a></td>
   <td>Dragora, an independent GNU/Linux distribution based on concepts of
       simplicity.</td></tr>

 <tr class="odd">
   <td><a href="http://www.dynebolic.org">
       <img src="/graphics/distros-dyen.png" alt="Dynebolic" /></a></td>
   <td>Dynebolic, a GNU/Linux distribution with special emphasis on audio 
       and video editing.</td></tr>

 <tr class="even">
   <td><a href="http://www.gnu.org/software/guix/">
       <img src="/software/guix/graphics/GuixSD-V.png" alt="guix" /></a></td>
   <td>Guix System Distribution is an advanced GNU/Linux distro built
       on top of GNU Guix (pronounced “geeks”), a purely
       functional package manager for the GNU system. </td></tr>

 <tr class="odd">
   <td><a href="http://www.gnewsense.org/">
       <img src="/graphics/distros-gnewsense.png" alt="gNewSense" /></a></td>
   <td>gNewSense, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian and Ubuntu, Debian, with
       sponsorship from the FSF.</td></tr>

    
 <tr class="odd"> class="even">
   <td><a href="http://www.musix.org.ar"> href="https://musixdistro.wordpress.com/">
       <img src="/graphics/distros-musix.png" alt="Musix GNU+Linux" /></a></td>
   <td>Musix, a GNU+Linux distribution based on Knoppix, with special
       emphasis on audio production.</td></tr>

 <tr class="even"> class="odd">
   <td><a href="http://parabolagnulinux.org"> href="http://www.parabola.nu/https/">
       <img src="/graphics/distros-parabola.png"
            alt="Parabola GNU/Linux" /></a></td>
   <td>Parabola GNU/Linux, a distribution based on Arch that
       prioritizes simple package and system management.</td></tr>

 <tr class="odd"> class="even">
   <td><a href="http://trisquel.info/">
       <img src="/graphics/distros-trisquel.png" alt="Trisquel" /></a></td>
   <td>Trisquel, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that's oriented 
 toward small enterprises, domestic users and educational centers.</td></tr>

<tr class="odd">
   <td><a href="http://www.ututo.org/">
       <img src="/graphics/distros-ututo.png" alt="Ututo" /></a></td>
   <td>Ututo XS, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo.  It was the first
       fully free GNU/Linux system recognized by the GNU Project.</td></tr>

</table>

<p id="small-distros">Below is a list of small system distributions. These 
   distributions are meant for devices with limited resources, like a 
   wireless router for example. A free small system distribution is not 
   self-hosting, but it must be developable and buildable on top of one of 
   the free complete systems listed above, perhaps with the aid of free 
   tools distributed alongside the small system distribution itself.</p>
<table class="listing">
  <thead><tr>
    <th>Distribution</th>
    <th>Description</th>
  </tr></thead>

 <tr class="odd">
   <td><a href="http://librewrt.org/"> href="http://librecmc.org/"> <img src="//static.fsf.org/nosvn/librewrt.png"
            alt="Librewrt GNU/Linux-Libre"
       src="/graphics/librecmc.png" alt="libreCMC" /></a></td>
   <td>LibreWRT GNU/Linux-Libre, a distribution
      <td>libreCMC is an embedded GNU/Linux distro for computers devices with minimal  resources, such as the Ben Nanonote, ath9k based wifi
       very limited resources. While primarily targeting routers, it
       offers support for a wide range of devices and other  hardware.</td></tr> use cases. In
       2015, LibreWRT merged with libreCMC.</td></tr>
 <tr class="even">
   <td><a href="http://proteanos.com/"> <img
       src="/graphics/proteanos.png" alt="ProteanOS" /></a></td>
   <td>ProteanOS is a new, small, and fast distribution for embedded devices. Its platform configuration feature allows binary packages to be configured at build-time and run-time for different hardware and use cases.</td></tr>

</table>

<p>In addition to their own sites, many of these distributions are
available from <a href="http://mirror.fsf.org/">mirror.fsf.org</a>.
Feel free to download or mirror the distributions from there,
preferably using rsync.  Free distribution maintainers can request a
mirror for their project by mailing the 
<a href="mailto:sysadmin@fsf.org">FSF sysadmins</a>.</p>

<p id="other-free">Non-GNU-based free system distributions are
listed in <a href="/distros/free-non-gnu-distros.html">a separate file</a>.</p>

<p>We list <a href="/links/companies.html">companies that sell hardware
preinstalled with a free GNU/Linux distribution</a> separately.</p>

<p><a href="/software/software.html">Individual GNU
packages</a> (most of which are included in the free distributions here) 
are described separately.</p>

<h3 id="NewDistro">See something we missed?</h3>

<p>Do you know about a distribution that you expected to find on our
list, but didn't?  First, check our page
about <a href="/distros/common-distros.html">why we don't endorse some
common distributions</a>.  That page explains the reasons why several
well-known distributions don't
meet <a href="/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html">our
guidelines</a>.  If the distribution isn't listed there either, and
you think it qualifies for a listing under our guidelines, then please
let the distribution's maintainers know about this page and encourage
them to get in touch—we'd like to hear from them.</p>

<p>If you maintain a distribution that follows
the <a href="/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html">Free
System Distribution Guidelines</a> and would like to be listed here,
please write to us
at <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><webmasters@gnu.org></a> href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org"><licensing@fsf.org></a>
with an introduction and a link to the project Web site.  When you do,
we'll explain more about our evaluation process to you, and get
started on it quickly.  We look forward to hearing from you!</p>

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<p>Updated:

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