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I don't understand why that would be relevant, Richard Stallman has nothing to do with Linux and has never worked on Linux at all.

type0 5y ago
relevant link that would otherwise have two of these contradictory copypastas: https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php/Interjection https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php/Interjection edit: the whole point is that people often mean Linux as in some distro and not Linux the Kernel
- gsich 5y ago
  No. He has nothing to do with Linux (as in the kernel). Parent is right to call it just Linux.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- lavabiopsy 5y ago
  I don't understand why this is relevant. To use the word from that article, please do not "shitpost" here, let's keep the conversation above ground.
m463 5y ago
The linux kernel is only one part of a functional system. RMS contributed gcc, gdb, emacs, gmake and more into the gnu system, which are all used in most distributions. That said, I think the GPL is his most important contribution, because that has kept such projects (such as the linux kernel) available to all.
- lavabiopsy 5y ago
  That's the GNU system though, which is a different thing entirely. It has always supported multiple kernels, in fact a lot of GNU software has ports for Microsoft Windows or can otherwise be cajoled into running there.
- jrockway 5y ago
  BSD is also available to all, and it uses the BSD license. The GPL is an interesting thought experiment but honestly I don't think it makes much difference these days. Apache seems to be the license that won over corporate America, and people are getting a lot of benefit from those projects. (Meanwhile, the cloud happened and no software licenses were ready for "AWS decided to run your thing for money and not pay you for writing the thing".)
  - m463 5y ago
    I wonder how many BSD enhancements have disappeared into corporate source trees because of "fork and close". (not that the linux kernel has necessarily benefitted from every corporate tarball downloadable from their website)
- gsich 5y ago
  And all are replaceable. The kernel is not.
omgwtfbyobbq 5y ago
Yup. The video creator thought it was relevant (~7:00). I think it's a little funny he was back on the board a month after the video.
rcoveson 5y ago
Saying that Richard Stallman has "nothing to do with Linux" is like saying that Naughty Dog have nothing to do with the PlayStation. They don't work on the hardware or OS, sure, but they do happen to write some of the most popular software on the system. GNU software installation counts are highly correlated with Linux installation counts. A user's overall experience with their Linux system is somewhat correlated with their feelings about the GNU software on it. If people enjoyed GNU software 50% less, it would certainly harm Linux.
- lavabiopsy 5y ago
  I'm afraid I don't understand your analogy, all of that has even less to do with Richard Stallman, who does not work on GNU software and hasn't done that in decades. Edit: I had to look up Naughty Dog that made me more confused, they only make Playstation software, but as I said in a sibling post: GNU has always supported multiple kernels.
  - rcoveson 5y ago
    You're just being intentionally obtuse. The original comment's argument was that Richard Stallman's return might result in higher quality software from the GNU project. That clearly affects Linux, since large amounts of GNU software are almost without exception deployed alongside Linux. Yes, there are two "hops" in the relationship, but it's still not much of a stretch. It's not hard to believe that Richard Stallman's presence at the FSF will influence the development of GNU software, and it's flat-out obvious that the quality of GNU software impacts Linux, just like the quality of games developed for the PlayStation impact its success.
    - lavabiopsy 5y ago
      >You're just being intentionally obtuse. Please avoid assuming bad faith, this is against the rules here, and it's pretty hostile to me and makes me not want to talk to you. I don't see how that argument follows, as I have said, Richard Stallman does not develop GNU software, very rarely influences its development regardless of his position, and also one does not need to have any presence at the FSF to influence the development of GNU software. In general the FSF does not drive development of GNU software, the contributors do. And many GNU contributors are not involved with the FSF at all (similar to how many Linux contributors are not involved with the Linux Foundation).

type0 5y ago

relevant link that would otherwise have two of these contradictory copypastas: https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php/Interjection https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php/Interjection edit: the whole point is that people often mean Linux as in some distro and not Linux the Kernel

gsich 5y ago
No. He has nothing to do with Linux (as in the kernel). Parent is right to call it just Linux.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
lavabiopsy 5y ago
I don't understand why this is relevant. To use the word from that article, please do not "shitpost" here, let's keep the conversation above ground.

m463 5y ago

The linux kernel is only one part of a functional system. RMS contributed gcc, gdb, emacs, gmake and more into the gnu system, which are all used in most distributions. That said, I think the GPL is his most important contribution, because that has kept such projects (such as the linux kernel) available to all.

lavabiopsy 5y ago
That's the GNU system though, which is a different thing entirely. It has always supported multiple kernels, in fact a lot of GNU software has ports for Microsoft Windows or can otherwise be cajoled into running there.
jrockway 5y ago
BSD is also available to all, and it uses the BSD license. The GPL is an interesting thought experiment but honestly I don't think it makes much difference these days. Apache seems to be the license that won over corporate America, and people are getting a lot of benefit from those projects. (Meanwhile, the cloud happened and no software licenses were ready for "AWS decided to run your thing for money and not pay you for writing the thing".)
- m463 5y ago
  I wonder how many BSD enhancements have disappeared into corporate source trees because of "fork and close". (not that the linux kernel has necessarily benefitted from every corporate tarball downloadable from their website)
gsich 5y ago
And all are replaceable. The kernel is not.

omgwtfbyobbq 5y ago

Yup. The video creator thought it was relevant (~7:00). I think it's a little funny he was back on the board a month after the video.

rcoveson 5y ago

Saying that Richard Stallman has "nothing to do with Linux" is like saying that Naughty Dog have nothing to do with the PlayStation. They don't work on the hardware or OS, sure, but they do happen to write some of the most popular software on the system. GNU software installation counts are highly correlated with Linux installation counts. A user's overall experience with their Linux system is somewhat correlated with their feelings about the GNU software on it. If people enjoyed GNU software 50% less, it would certainly harm Linux.

lavabiopsy 5y ago
I'm afraid I don't understand your analogy, all of that has even less to do with Richard Stallman, who does not work on GNU software and hasn't done that in decades. Edit: I had to look up Naughty Dog that made me more confused, they only make Playstation software, but as I said in a sibling post: GNU has always supported multiple kernels.
- rcoveson 5y ago
  You're just being intentionally obtuse. The original comment's argument was that Richard Stallman's return might result in higher quality software from the GNU project. That clearly affects Linux, since large amounts of GNU software are almost without exception deployed alongside Linux. Yes, there are two "hops" in the relationship, but it's still not much of a stretch. It's not hard to believe that Richard Stallman's presence at the FSF will influence the development of GNU software, and it's flat-out obvious that the quality of GNU software impacts Linux, just like the quality of games developed for the PlayStation impact its success.
  - lavabiopsy 5y ago
    >You're just being intentionally obtuse. Please avoid assuming bad faith, this is against the rules here, and it's pretty hostile to me and makes me not want to talk to you. I don't see how that argument follows, as I have said, Richard Stallman does not develop GNU software, very rarely influences its development regardless of his position, and also one does not need to have any presence at the FSF to influence the development of GNU software. In general the FSF does not drive development of GNU software, the contributors do. And many GNU contributors are not involved with the FSF at all (similar to how many Linux contributors are not involved with the Linux Foundation).