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Richard Stallman wants you to use GNU/Linux to refer to the combination of OS and kernel that people typically call Linux. I am not a Stallman partisan one way or the other, but I think noting his ...
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#2: Post edited
by
Michael
·
2024-06-20T19:39:50Z (10 days ago)
More on Hurd. Fix typo. Note that quote block is an excerpt.
Richard Stallman [wants you to use GNU/Linux][1] to refer to the combination of OS and kernel that people typically call Linux. I am not a Stallman partisan one way or the other, but I think noting his complaint is informative in the context here. I have emphasized the subset of his article below that describes what Linux does.- > 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.
- >
- > Many users do not understand the difference between the kernel, which is Linux, and the whole system, which they also call “Linux.” The ambiguous use of the name doesn't help people understand. These users often think that Linus Torvalds developed the whole operating system in 1991, with a bit of help.
GNU did eventually [write their own kernel called "Hurd."][hurd]It's also worth noting that you can also use the Linux without GNU. For example, Android is a non-GNU Linux.- [1]: https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html
- [hurd]: https://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/
- Richard Stallman [wants you to use GNU/Linux][1] to refer to the combination of OS and kernel that people typically call Linux. I am not a Stallman partisan one way or the other, but I think noting his complaint is informative in this context. I have emphasized the sentence of the excerpt below where he describes what Linux does.
- > 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.
- >
- > Many users do not understand the difference between the kernel, which is Linux, and the whole system, which they also call “Linux.” The ambiguous use of the name doesn't help people understand. These users often think that Linus Torvalds developed the whole operating system in 1991, with a bit of help.
- GNU has had a project for on [their own kernel called "Hurd,"][hurd] since 1990, though it only became usable in 2015 or so. I think even now it's not really recommended for stable environments.
- It's also worth noting that you can also use the Linux kernel without GNU. For example, Android is a non-GNU Linux.
- [1]: https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html
- [hurd]: https://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/
#1: Initial revision
by
Michael
·
2024-06-18T20:26:00Z (12 days ago)
Richard Stallman [wants you to use GNU/Linux][1] to refer to the combination of OS and kernel that people typically call Linux. I am not a Stallman partisan one way or the other, but I think noting his complaint is informative in the context here. I have emphasized the subset of his article below that describes what Linux does. > 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. > > Many users do not understand the difference between the kernel, which is Linux, and the whole system, which they also call “Linux.” The ambiguous use of the name doesn't help people understand. These users often think that Linus Torvalds developed the whole operating system in 1991, with a bit of help. GNU did eventually [write their own kernel called "Hurd."][hurd] It's also worth noting that you can also use the Linux without GNU. For example, Android is a non-GNU Linux. [1]: https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html [hurd]: https://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/