commandline.org.uk — What is the operating system that I use called? I along with 99% of the human race, call it 'Linux' when speaking. However, when writing, I often use the term "GNU/Linux" the first time in an article to appease those who use this term. Today I decided to actually think about the issue.
Nov 22, 2007 View in Crawl 4
baalzebubNov 22, 2007
i could care less for the author's rant, Linux is just the kernel, it is built with the GNU toolset, and other packages that make a complete distro each have their own names, true though when people refer to any Linux distro they just call it Linux-*something* or *something*-Linux, RMS insists on calling it GNU/Linux and thats his right to call it what he wants, as long as you know what is under the hood and appreciate the hard work that went in to building it is what really counts anyway...
toadlegNov 23, 2007
Why then don't you appreciate the work of Firefox and OpenOffice when you refer to Firefox/OpenOffice/Linux? What about the hundreds of other programs in Linux? Because you're not anti-appreciating them by not listing every program name every time you refer to the kernel. But for some reason, unlike everyone else, GNU wants to spray paint "GNU wuz here" on the Linux name. Just refer to the kernel name, "Linux", "Solaris", or "Hurd", when denoting the operating system, because it's the base that the rest of it is built on.
philluminatiNov 23, 2007
People that use the why not call it Firefox/OpenOffice/GNU/Linux are f**king retarded.GNU isn't a set of user space programs okay. When we say toolkit we mean the things that are actually required such as BASH (the command line interface), GCC (The Compiler you may of actually compiled your operating system with). The contents of /bin. They are not "just" userspace programs. The argument they can be replaced is stupid, so can the Kernel....just because something can be replaced doesn't mean it's role isn't important. The kernel can be replaced much easier. Look GNU + LINUX KERNEL are the two major components of GNU/Linux systems. Give the dude the credit he deserves.
chillNov 23, 2007
"I along with 99% of the human race, call it 'Linux'"That's a lot of people who know about Linux.
toadlegNov 23, 2007
How about giving them the credit they deserve in the credits, not in the dictionary?
kevinjimNov 23, 2007
99% of the human race don't only they are unaware what Linux is but what a computer is. If you said 1% of the human race it would be A LOT people