GNU GRUB project, which is a rewrite of GRUB, is alive and under development. GRUB aims at merging sources from PUPA in order to create the next generation of GNU GRUB. A mailing list and a wiki have been setup for discussing the development of GRUB.

Here are some key features of "GNU GRUB":

· Create a compact core image. This will make Stage 1.5 unnecessary.
· Add support for dynamic loading to the core image, so that it can extend itself at the run time rather than at the build time.
· Add real memory management, to make GNU GRUB more extensible.
· Add a more object-oriented framework for file systems, files, devices, drives, terminals, commands, and OS loaders.
· Add support for internationalization. This includes support for non-ASCII character code, message catalogs like gettext, fonts, graphics console, and so on.
· Add an actual localization, based on the above internationalization support. We will target on Japanese as the first step.
· Segregate code specific to i386-pc from generic code, to make GNU GRUB portable.
· Add support for cross-platform installation.
· Develop additional software packages which will help our project and hopefully other projects.

Multiboot Specification is a protocol between a boot loader and an OS kernel. Because this specification is generic, you can use the protocol in your own boot loader and/or in your own OS freely. Follow this link, for more details.