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Tracing the FSF's Footsteps

Thu, 12 Dec 2024

This article was originally published in issue 45 of the FSF's bulletin for Fall 2024.

The FSF's seemingly mundane physical location history offers a glimpse into the organization's growth and tells the story of an important part of the free software movement. Let's follow the FSF''s footsteps through the years.

The FSF emerged on October 4, 1985 during the burgeoning tech revolution. The FSF's mission was clear: grant users the freedom to run, study, share, and modify software. In its early days, the FSF primarily focused on hiring talented programmers to contribute to the GNU Project, an ambitious endeavor to create a completely free operating system. Its mission of free software for all was welcome in the thriving hacker culture at MIT. The FSF's initial headquarters were nestled within the walls of Lisp Machines, Inc. (LMI) at 1000 Massachusetts Ave, a company with deep ties to the local hacker community. LMI generously provided the fledgling FSF with office space, computing resources, and a mailing address, and MIT even supplied desks. While LMI was the first home of the FSF, it would not be the forever home. Once a promising innovation, Lisp Machines faced harsh market realities and went out of business in 1987, leading the FSF to begin the search for a new base.

During and after the relocation to 675 Massachusetts Ave, the FSF remained steadfast in its mission, mailing out tapes of free software and raising funds to support the development of GNU. This period was marked by significant achievements, including the release of GNU General Public License (GPL) versions 1 and 2 in 1989 and 1991, respectively. These licenses became the bedrock of the free software movement, ensuring that software released under their terms would remain free for users to use, study, modify, and share. A year later, in 1992, Linus Torvalds, the creator of the kernel named Linux, decided to relicense his program under the GPL instead of the original nonfree license. This seemingly small act had a profound impact, effectively completing the GNU operating system. The GNU Project, which had been diligently developing a free operating system since 1983, finally had all the necessary components to realize its vision. The dream of using a computer with complete freedom was now a reality with GNU/Linux.

By 1995, the foundation's activities had expanded beyond just coding. They were now actively promoting and advocating for free software, educating the public, and fighting legal battles. The small office at 675 Massachusetts Ave was bursting at the seams, unable to accommodate the growing team and the increasing demands of their mission. In response, the FSF moved to 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA, in 1995. With more space, the foundation could dedicate more resources to non-programming activities, such as public outreach and legal advocacy. Key developments during the FSF's time at 59 Temple Place include:

  • Continued rapid progress on the GNU Project, including the development of GNOME (then called the GNU Network Object Model Environment);
  • Expansion of the GNU Press in publishing more books and manuals explaining free software's philosophy and practicalities;
  • The FSF began campaigning against software patents, recognizing them as a significant threat to free software and advocated for legal reforms to protect software developers' freedom to create and share code;
  • The FSF also became a vocal critic of so-called Digital "Rights" Management (DRM), which they termed Digital Restrictions Management to reframe the issue as restricting user freedoms.

Driven by the need for a more modern and spacious office, the FSF relocated to 51 Franklin Street in 2005. This location provided the FSF with ample room for an expanding team. The foundation thrived at 51 Franklin Street for nearly two decades, achieving several milestones and further solidifying its role as a champion of software freedom. Some notable events and accomplishments during this period include:

  • Publishing the third version of the GNU General Public License (GPL), a significant update to the cornerstone license of the free software movement. GPLv3 addressed contemporary legal challenges and further strengthened the protections for user freedoms;
  • Cisco Case: The FSF took a stand against GPL violations by filing a lawsuit concerning Cisco's Linksys routers. This legal action underscored the FSF's commitment to enforcing the GPL and ensuring that companies comply with its terms, safeguarding user freedoms;
  • OpenWRT Project: The release of the source code from the Linksys lawsuit resulted in the formation of the OpenWRT project; the first commit into the version control system is that source code;
  • Respects Your Freedom (RYF) Certification: The FSF launched the Respects Your Freedom hardware endorsement program, providing certification for hardware products that meet their rigorous standards for user freedom, privacy, and control. The RYF certification empowers individuals to make informed choices and supports companies aligning with the FSF's values.

The FSF's tenure at 51 Franklin St. is a testament to their enduring commitment to software freedom and the ability to adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing technological landscape. In 2024, the FSF further adapted to the needs of an international community and transitioned to an entirely virtual organization, allowing it to more effectively connect with a global community of free software advocates and contributors. From its early days at LMI to its current virtual existence, the FSF has consistently championed the cause of software freedom, empowering users and shaping the digital landscape for the better.