Desktop Linux Consortium press release [LWN.net]

Desktop Linux Consortium press release

Posted Feb 5, 2003 17:59 UTC (Wed) by coriordan (subscriber, #7544)
Parent article: Desktop Linux Consortium press release

Linux is a kernel.
Linus is a kernel hacker/project leader.

KDE is a desktop.
GNOME is a desktop.

Neither KDE or GNOME are tied to Linux. They're not even tied to GNU/Linux (the operating system).

Yes we have all this software, yes the source is open but the reason we have developers working on it is because we also have *Freedom*.

People shouldn't be afraid to talk about the GNU project, or GNU/Linux, or Free Software.

Ciaran O'Riordan

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Desktop Linux Consortium press release

Posted Feb 6, 2003 0:04 UTC (Thu) by zenaan (guest, #3778) [Link]

here, here - or is that hear hear? !

anyway, seconded by me
zen

Desktop Linux Consortium press release

Posted Feb 6, 2003 6:05 UTC (Thu) by Strike (guest, #861) [Link]

While I agree that the name isn't probably as "correct" as it could be and it's probably shaped more by what sounds more catchy to the media than what the project constituents really work on, it does accurately represent the project's aims.

Companies and organizations supporting today's announcement include ArkLinux, CodeWeavers, Debian.org, DesktopLinux.com, KDE, Linux Professional Institute (LPI), Lycoris, The Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP), MandrakeSoft, NeTraverse, OpenOffice.org, Questnet (Support4Linux.com), Samba.org, theKompany, SuSE, TransGaming Technologies, TrustCommerce, Xandros, and Ximian.

As you can see from this quote from the press release, it's not just KDE and GNOME, it's about several organizations working together towards getting good desktop-oriented technologies and apps out there for for deployment with Linux distributions.

Desktop Linux Consortium press release

Posted Feb 6, 2003 16:29 UTC (Thu) by BrucePerens (subscriber, #2510) [Link]

OK, let's call it "The Linux, BSD, Hurd, eCOS GNU FreeSoftware OpenSource desktop Consortium featuring KDE, GNOME, and AfterStep."

OK, what have I left out? :-)

The point is taken. I do sprinkle in those "GNU/" references when I can,
etc. One must, however, consider the audience to which something is
directed. Especially in the desktop realm, where we're not really playing
to our shell-using extremely sophisticated Free Software developer.

We want those less-sophisticated users for the same reason we want to
be all through the entire economy. When we need to fight back DRM, software
patents, and other stuff that is going to block Free Software, we need
to look like something other than a fringe movement. We're doing a really
good job so far. Please be conscious that while I always side with RMS,
I can't always look like RMS and succeed in getting us where we need to
be.

Thanks

Bruce