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If we're doing this, Linux is the kernel and it's possible to have a GNU system without the Linux kernel. Debian GNU/kFreeBSD, the Hurd, and even Windows with
by msla 5y ago
If we're doing this, Linux is the kernel and it's possible to have a GNU system without the Linux kernel.
Debian GNU/kFreeBSD, the Hurd, and even Windows with a GNU userspace (such as Cygwin) all exist.
- matheusmoreira 5y agoIf we go down this route, we might as well name everything installed in user space. I'm running an i3/GNU/systemd/custom Linux system on my laptop. When do we stop? Sure, it's totally possible to install GNU software on other operating systems. You can install it on Linux, the BSDs, even Windows. They're just regular programs.
- southerntofu 5y agoI believe "Debian GNOME", "Manjaro KDE", or "guix sway" are very valid answers to "what system are you running?", don't you? I wouldn't list all userspace components for sure, but some can be relevant to include. "GNU/Linux" is a relevant label to me so i know we're talking about a system which has common POSIX-inspired utilities... "Linux" can be Android for all i know, which is a very different system.
- matheusmoreira 5y agoI agree. It makes complete sense to mention the distribution you're using. Saying you use Debian is much better than saying GNU/Linux. People understand perfectly what sort of software Debian distributes, there is no need to mention anything else. Mentioning that I use Arch Linux annoys people for some reason so I stopped doing that. I just say I use Linux.
- fsflover 5y agohttps://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#many https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#many
- matheusmoreira 5y agoI know about that page. They too think it's absurd to name every user space software when referring to the system. This is where I disagree: > The principal developer is the GNU Project, and the system is basically GNU. I think the system is basically Linux.
- fsflover 5y agohttps://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#allsmall https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#allsmall
- matheusmoreira 5y agoI know about that page. I've read it. I just don't agree with it. Just because it's written in a FAQ doesn't mean it automatically refutes arguments when cited. It just represents GNU's opinon on the matter, an opinion I don't agree with. The percentage of Linux's contribution doesn't really matter. Operating systems manage hardware and support the execution of programs. That's what Linux does. To me, most of GNU is just wrappers around Linux system calls plus some additional logic. The most significant GNU program being GCC of course. I think this way because I'm a programmer who likes working with small Linux systems. GNU takes the perspective of a user of POSIX-like systems.
- fsflover 5y ago> The percentage of Linux's contribution doesn't really matter. I think all useful code should matter, not just that which you like more. GNU "wrappers" are used by people a lot, and to most people Linux would be totally useless without them.
- msla 5y agoI think we agree more than we disagree. I was pointing out that most definitions of operating system I've seen say it's a kernel plus a userspace, and that Linux, the kernel, is a replaceable component.