title: Launching the GNU Assembly web site date: 2021-04-16 14:00:00 author: The GNU Assembly --- Hi there! We’re excited to launch the GNU Assembly web site—“GNU” as in “new”! This place intends to be a collaboration platform for the developers of GNU packages who are all “hacking for user freedom” and who [share a vision](/en/documents/social-contract) for the umbrella project. **DRAFT** Truth be told, this is an old story finally becoming a reality. Almost ten years ago, Andy Wingo (of GNU Guile) emailed GNU maintainers: ``` From: Andy Wingo Subject: [gnu-prog-discuss] An experimental GNU Assembly To: gnu-prog-discuss Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:32:09 Greetings, GNU maintainers. At the last GNU Hacker's Meeting in Paris, we talked a lot about the social structure of the GNU project. There was broad consensus that the GNU project would be healthier and more effective if GNU maintainers had the ability to act collectively, beyond our capacities in our individual projects. This mail is an attempt to take concrete steps in that direction. I'm trying to reflect the consensus we reached in Paris, though the words are mine only. In brief, I would like to propose an experiment: the creation of a new forum for collective decision-making in the GNU project. This "GNU Assembly" (or whatever we call it) will discuss topics relevant to the GNU project, with the goal of producing technical recommendations through a process of consensus-building. The major organ of the GNU Assembly will be a new mailing list, with public archives. The details of the discussion and recommendation-producing structure should be worked out on that list. Ideally I would like for all core GNU contributors to participate in this experiment. Following Debian's example, GNU Assembly members should first agree on a founding document of principles. This document should be short and sweet: something about the four freedoms, preference for copyleft, and mutual respect among assembly members. Please give your reactions on this list. Eventually this discussion should be archived publicly, so please start a new thread if you do not want your message archived on the new list, and mark it as such. If there is agreement, I would like to start work on a draft Social Contract within the week, and open a new assembly@gnu.org mailing list shortly. Let's give it a go! Yours in free software, Andy ``` Why this did not happen “within the week” belongs to the past; everything in this message describes our effort today. We came up with a [founding document](/en/documents/social-contract) last year through a [transparent discussion process](https://wiki.gnu.tools/gnu:gsc-feedback), followed by a [formal endorsement period](https://wiki.gnu.tools/gnu:social-contract-endorsement). The public [Assembly list](https://lists.gnu.tools/hyperkitty/list/assembly@lists.gnu.tools/) is where this group discusses. Currently, the GNU Assembly consists of maintainers and developers from about [30 packages](/en/software)—old and young, small and big. You too can [join us](/en/contribute)!