How to Get Help with GNU Software

The Free Software Foundation does not provide technical support. Our mission is developing software, because that is the most time-efficient way to increase what free software can do. We leave it to others to earn a living providing support. We see programmers as providing a service, much as doctors and lawyers do now; both medical and legal knowledge are freely redistributable, but their practitioners charge for service. So please do not ask gnu@gnu.org or call the FSF Office for technical support.

The GNU Service Directory (48k characters) is a list of people who offer support and other consulting services. It is also in the file `etc/SERVICE' in the GNU Emacs distribution, `SERVICE' in the GCC distribution, and `/pub/gnu/GNUinfo/SERVICE' on a GNU FTP host. Contact us to get a copy or to be listed in it.

If you find a deficiency in any GNU software, we want to know. We have many Internet mailing lists (50k characters) for bug reports, announcements, and questions. They are also gatewayed into USENET news as the `gnu.*' newsgroups (50k characters).

When we receive a bug report, we usually try to fix the problem. While our bug fixes may seem like individual assistance, they are not; they are part of preparing a new improved version. We may send you a patch for a bug so that you can help us test the fix and ensure its quality. If your bug report does not evoke a solution from us, you may still get one from another user who reads our bug report mailing lists. Otherwise, use the GNU Service Directory (48k characters).

Please do not ask us to help you install software or learn how to use it--but do tell us how an installation script fails or where documentation is unclear.


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FSF & GNU inquiries & questions to gnu@gnu.org. Other ways to contact the FSF.

Comments on these web pages to webmasters@www.gnu.org, send other questions to gnu@gnu.org.

Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111, USA

Updated: 27 Apr 1998 devnull