5 ms·

And the 3rd name is backwards. It ought to be called 'Linux Subsystem for Windows'.

SpaceManNabs 9y ago
THAT IS IT! I was wondering why the name always felt funky. Although the name they have now is technically correct if you ignore standard noun to adjective conventions.
- pavement 9y ago
  ...or it's missing an apostrophe. a. Windows' Subsystem for Linux b. Window's Subsystem for Linux Each option has its own sort of context.
  - bdowling 9y ago
    If you're making it a possessive using an apostrophe, then it should be "Windows's Subsystem for Linux" because Windows is singular in that context.
    - IncRnd 9y ago
      That's not the entire story, unfortunately. There are other rules. For example, Windows might be considered a family name, as there are several Windows Operating Systems. Also, this is a technical name, and technical writing often follows different rules, specifically in cases such as this. For the possessive form of Windows I would look at the Microsoft Manual of Style, which for me is the fourth edition. Page 184: Possessive Nouns -------------- Do not use the possessive form of Microsoft. Do not use the possessive form of other company names unless you have no other choice. And do not use the possessive form of a product, service, or feature name. You can use these names as adjectives, or you can use an of construction instead. Microsoft style: the Windows interface Microsoft products, services, and technologies Word templates --------------
      - Makaila43 9y ago
        My mothers neighbour is working part time and averaging $9000 a month. I'm a single mum and just got my first paycheck for $6546! I still can't believe it. I tried it out cause I got really desperate and now I couldn't be happier. Heres what I do, •••••••••>> http://cutt.us/7N2sG http://cutt.us/7N2sG
    - pavement 9y ago
      The correct form of possessive context for words ending in "s," is with a dangling, trailing apostrophe, and omission of the extra "s."
      - dragonwriter 9y ago
        > The correct form of possessive context for words ending in "s," is with a dangling, trailing apostrophe, and omission of the extra "s." That is correct (or, at least, nearly universally agreed to) for possessives of plural nouns ending in “s”, style guides are mixed when it comes to other nouns ending in “s”, though the most common rule seems to be to use “’s”; while “windows” is plural, “Windows” as the name of the operating system is a proper noun that is not treated as plural.
- cat199 9y ago
  I believe this, like many things in the windows ecosystem, is deliberately confusing/takes advantage of linguistic ambiguity to create confusion in the observer and create a sort of implied sense or feeling of microsoft superiority... E.g. having windows 1st sort of inflates the 'primacy' of windows with respect to linux; it is linux that is being made compatible with windows rather than the other way around. Best things that come to mind are things from the windows UI - like the network privacy zones, having the 'basic' and 'advanced' control panel, etc.. Some things say 'windows is updating your computer' rather than 'your computer is updating windows' or some such... To me they have this sort of psychological undertone of 'always remember how microsoft is helping you make this confusing thing much easier.. you couldn't do it without us'
sbuttgereit 9y ago
I disagree. Microsoft is correct; mostly if not entirely. Q: It's a subsystem? What kind of subsystem? A: It's a Windows subsystem? Q: A subsystem for what? A: It's the Windows subsystem for Linux. As another commentator mentioned, there's probably a missing possessive ("'s"), but even if we take the proper name to be more of an adjective modifying/qualifying "subsystem", it's a Windows subsystem, it's purpose is running Linux... the Windows Subsystem for Linux.
- spacehunt 9y ago
  But we don't have the Windows Subsystem for Win32, the Windows Manager for I/O, etc., so while the naming is technically correct, it is inconsistent.
  - dboreham 9y ago
    Sure there's a subsystem for win32.
- Dylan16807 9y ago
  "Windows Subsystem ___ Linux" could be fine, but "for" is not the correct word to put in that blank.
  - diegoperini 9y ago
    Why not "Linux Accompanied Windows"? Or "Still Windows but also some Linux"?
    - Decade 9y ago
      But Linux is the one part that is not present. It’s GNU software running in a Windows subsystem. GNU/Windows?
      - Dylan16807 9y ago
        The whole point is having the Linux ABI. There are half a dozen ways to run GNU on Windows.
wolfgang42 9y ago
As mentioned by others, the emphasis in the name is on the fact that it's a Windows Subsystem. The historical precedent for this name is "Windows Services for UNIX", which similarly provided a Unix environment on Windows NT.

THAT IS IT! I was wondering why the name always felt funky. Although the name they have now is technically correct if you ignore standard noun to adjective conventions.

pavement 9y ago
...or it's missing an apostrophe. a. Windows' Subsystem for Linux b. Window's Subsystem for Linux Each option has its own sort of context.
- bdowling 9y ago
  If you're making it a possessive using an apostrophe, then it should be "Windows's Subsystem for Linux" because Windows is singular in that context.
  - IncRnd 9y ago
    That's not the entire story, unfortunately. There are other rules. For example, Windows might be considered a family name, as there are several Windows Operating Systems. Also, this is a technical name, and technical writing often follows different rules, specifically in cases such as this. For the possessive form of Windows I would look at the Microsoft Manual of Style, which for me is the fourth edition. Page 184: Possessive Nouns -------------- Do not use the possessive form of Microsoft. Do not use the possessive form of other company names unless you have no other choice. And do not use the possessive form of a product, service, or feature name. You can use these names as adjectives, or you can use an of construction instead. Microsoft style: the Windows interface Microsoft products, services, and technologies Word templates --------------
    - Makaila43 9y ago
      My mothers neighbour is working part time and averaging $9000 a month. I'm a single mum and just got my first paycheck for $6546! I still can't believe it. I tried it out cause I got really desperate and now I couldn't be happier. Heres what I do, •••••••••>> http://cutt.us/7N2sG http://cutt.us/7N2sG
  - pavement 9y ago
    The correct form of possessive context for words ending in "s," is with a dangling, trailing apostrophe, and omission of the extra "s."
    - dragonwriter 9y ago
      > The correct form of possessive context for words ending in "s," is with a dangling, trailing apostrophe, and omission of the extra "s." That is correct (or, at least, nearly universally agreed to) for possessives of plural nouns ending in “s”, style guides are mixed when it comes to other nouns ending in “s”, though the most common rule seems to be to use “’s”; while “windows” is plural, “Windows” as the name of the operating system is a proper noun that is not treated as plural.
cat199 9y ago
I believe this, like many things in the windows ecosystem, is deliberately confusing/takes advantage of linguistic ambiguity to create confusion in the observer and create a sort of implied sense or feeling of microsoft superiority... E.g. having windows 1st sort of inflates the 'primacy' of windows with respect to linux; it is linux that is being made compatible with windows rather than the other way around. Best things that come to mind are things from the windows UI - like the network privacy zones, having the 'basic' and 'advanced' control panel, etc.. Some things say 'windows is updating your computer' rather than 'your computer is updating windows' or some such... To me they have this sort of psychological undertone of 'always remember how microsoft is helping you make this confusing thing much easier.. you couldn't do it without us'

sbuttgereit 9y ago

I disagree. Microsoft is correct; mostly if not entirely. Q: It's a subsystem? What kind of subsystem? A: It's a Windows subsystem? Q: A subsystem for what? A: It's the Windows subsystem for Linux. As another commentator mentioned, there's probably a missing possessive ("'s"), but even if we take the proper name to be more of an adjective modifying/qualifying "subsystem", it's a Windows subsystem, it's purpose is running Linux... the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

spacehunt 9y ago
But we don't have the Windows Subsystem for Win32, the Windows Manager for I/O, etc., so while the naming is technically correct, it is inconsistent.
- dboreham 9y ago
  Sure there's a subsystem for win32.
Dylan16807 9y ago
"Windows Subsystem ___ Linux" could be fine, but "for" is not the correct word to put in that blank.
- diegoperini 9y ago
  Why not "Linux Accompanied Windows"? Or "Still Windows but also some Linux"?
  - Decade 9y ago
    But Linux is the one part that is not present. It’s GNU software running in a Windows subsystem. GNU/Windows?
    - Dylan16807 9y ago
      The whole point is having the Linux ABI. There are half a dozen ways to run GNU on Windows.

wolfgang42 9y ago

As mentioned by others, the emphasis in the name is on the fact that it's a Windows Subsystem. The historical precedent for this name is "Windows Services for UNIX", which similarly provided a Unix environment on Windows NT.