It is available for Linux, Mac OS X and other systems. Binaries compiled for Microsoft Windows version are distributed as crippleware with a restricted number of activities; it is possible to access all the activities in Windows for a fee.

GCompris has more than 100 activities related to:

* Computer discovery: keyboard, mouse, different mouse gestures
* Algebra: table memory, enumeration, double entry table, mirror images
* Science: the canal lock, the water cycle, the submarine, electric simulations
* Geography: place the country on the map
* Games: chess, memory, connect 4, oware, sudoku
* Reading: reading practice
* Other: learn to tell time, puzzle of famous paintings, vector drawing, cartoon making

The name GCompris is a French pun impossible to translate. It comes from the French “J’ai compris” [?e kompri], which is French for “I have understood”, and is pronounced the same way as the name of the program would be by a French speaker.

Another interesting thing is that it is translated in more than 40 languages, perhaps that should be added to the Wikipedia article. You can also read about GCompris in the media.

Here’s a short video on youtube that gives us a brief look at it. “Online Tutorial: GCompris Educational Software“.

I have fond memories of using GCompris with adults and children so make sure you check it out.

“The most essential resource of any society is not a physical resource, it’s a psycho-social resource. It’s the spirit of good will; the spirit of helping your neighbour.” — Richard Stallman

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“The documents are predominantly based on confidential material provided by Microsoft which was provided on the clear understanding that it would remain confidential,” said Becta.

According to the report, a UK analyst who asked not to be named, said it was possible to guestimate that UK schools spent about £55m a year on Microsoft software, based on a rare disclosure of a deal the NHS signed with Microsoft in 2004.

There has been growing concern in the public sector in the UK and Europe about the ways in which Microsoft might try to protect the monopoly it has in desktop software, for example, keeping its prices artificially high, which absorbs public money that could be spent elsewhere, and at the same time suppressing innovative competitors from breaking through. Yet open source software suppliers, which are the only credible competitors to Microsoft, give their software to schools for free.

Becta have launched a programme to get UK schools to adopt open source software, it is one which will allow one supplier, selected by tender, two years to build a community of schools which uses and develops its own open source alternatives to Microsoft software. So it would seem the UK government is at last opening its eyes to the benefits of Foss.

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