4 ms·

So this has to be said again : Linux is NOT an operating system, Linux is a Kernel. Android, Debian and OpenWRT are operating systems. Debian even support other

by stymaar 11y ago

So this has to be said again : Linux is NOT an operating system, Linux is a Kernel. Android, Debian and OpenWRT are operating systems. Debian even support other kernels than Linux.

Enindu 11y ago
Great point BTW. EDIT : May be the writer of this article talking about operating systems based on Linux kernel and he called them all simply Linux as we all do.
badsock 11y ago
Respectfully, I don't think it needs to said again. This is English - meaning is determined by common usage, and for quite a while now the Linux has meant both the kernel and the OS to almost everyone (disambiguated by calling the former the "Linux kernel" when need be). Is it logical? Not really. But the horse is well out of the gate at this point.
oliwarner 11y ago
If you're going to be pedantic, at least nail it. Debian (Linux) and OpenWRT are distributions. They're super-sets of applications, the GNU tools and the Linux kernel (or HURD). You only need the last two to form an "operating system". Android is a little different in that it doesn't sit on a GNU stack. I'm happier calling Android an operating system than I am Debian and OpenWRT.
- rifung 11y ago
  If Debian is a distribution and Linux is just the kernel, what do you say if you run Debian and people ask what OS you use?
  - patzerhacker 11y ago
    Debian GNU/Linux
  - drhack 11y ago
    The pedantically correct term is "Debian GNU+Linux", I believe.
  - oliwarner 11y ago
    Depends who "people" were. Somebody who knows nothing is going to hear "Debian", somebody with a little more tech in their blood will hear "Debian... Yeah, that's right, Linux" and I'll save the "Debian GNU/Linux" for people trying to make a point about nomenclature. My point wasn't that it's super important you call these things by the right name, it's that you were and you were getting it wrong still.

4 ms·

So this has to be said again : Linux is NOT an operating system, Linux is a Kernel. Android, Debian and OpenWRT are operating systems. Debian even support other

by stymaar 11y ago

So this has to be said again : Linux is NOT an operating system, Linux is a Kernel. Android, Debian and OpenWRT are operating systems. Debian even support other kernels than Linux.

Enindu 11y ago
Great point BTW. EDIT : May be the writer of this article talking about operating systems based on Linux kernel and he called them all simply Linux as we all do.
badsock 11y ago
Respectfully, I don't think it needs to said again. This is English - meaning is determined by common usage, and for quite a while now the Linux has meant both the kernel and the OS to almost everyone (disambiguated by calling the former the "Linux kernel" when need be). Is it logical? Not really. But the horse is well out of the gate at this point.
oliwarner 11y ago
If you're going to be pedantic, at least nail it. Debian (Linux) and OpenWRT are distributions. They're super-sets of applications, the GNU tools and the Linux kernel (or HURD). You only need the last two to form an "operating system". Android is a little different in that it doesn't sit on a GNU stack. I'm happier calling Android an operating system than I am Debian and OpenWRT.
- rifung 11y ago
  If Debian is a distribution and Linux is just the kernel, what do you say if you run Debian and people ask what OS you use?
  - patzerhacker 11y ago
    Debian GNU/Linux
  - drhack 11y ago
    The pedantically correct term is "Debian GNU+Linux", I believe.
  - oliwarner 11y ago
    Depends who "people" were. Somebody who knows nothing is going to hear "Debian", somebody with a little more tech in their blood will hear "Debian... Yeah, that's right, Linux" and I'll save the "Debian GNU/Linux" for people trying to make a point about nomenclature. My point wasn't that it's super important you call these things by the right name, it's that you were and you were getting it wrong still.