4 ms·
What you guys are referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto i
by pearjuice 13y ago
What you guys are referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.
Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.
There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.
- saganus 13y agoRMS, is that you? :)
- recursive 13y agoHow do I use the GNU pieces on my Motorola Photon?
- pearjuice 13y agoPlease read https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/android-and-users-freedom.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/android-and-users-freedom.htm...
- recursive 13y agoThat link makes sense to me. "Android contains Linux, but not GNU." This quote from the article implies that it is not an error to refer to Linux without "GNU", since they are independent. In fact, it suggests that unconditional use of "GNU/Linux" are mistaken, since not all Linux implementations rely on GNU software.
- LukeShu 13y agoThat is indeed the case! See these two FAQ points[1][2]. Other examples include iPodLinux (remember those!) and TinyCoreLinux. https://gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#justlinux https://gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#justlinux https://gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#linuxsyswithoutgnu https://gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#linuxsyswithoutgnu
- mixmastamyk 13y agoActually, mine is currently: Linux(GPL)/Upstart(GPL)/GNU/X Window(MIT)/Gnome(LGPL)/XFCE(LGPL)/Python(PSFL)/Firefox(MPL)/Thunderbird(MPL)/VLC(LGPL)/*BSD/... say that five times fast. ;)
- NelsonMinar 13y agoOf all the places to grind this ax, you'd pick the place where we're discussing Linus's historical announcement of his brand new kernel? A year before the word "Linux" was ever coined? In a discussion of a message where he talks about porting two specific GNU programs as evidence of how serious he is?
- chrismonsanto 13y agoThis is a common troll copypaste, I think originating at 4chan. It is unclear if Stallman ever said/wrote those words. Generally it starts with 'I'd just like to interject for a moment' Edit: evidence that the first paragraph is real? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlD9UBTcSW4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlD9UBTcSW4 (from http://www.reddit.com/r/gnu/comments/hv56g/source_of_the_famous_id_like_to_interject_for_a/ http://www.reddit.com/r/gnu/comments/hv56g/source_of_the_fam...)
- bitwize 13y agoStallman has been harping about GNU/Linux since the mid-90s at least. He gave me a hard time about it back in 1998 or so.
- LukeShu 13y agoThe first paragraph is unclear, but RMS actually wrote the second two paragraphs.[1] [1] https://gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html https://gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html
- NelsonMinar 13y agoIt's hard to tell the deliberate trolls from the accidental ones sometimes.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- saryant 13y agoI've had the misfortune to hear him give this spiel in person, it's real.