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Quotes of the week
Quotes of the week
Posted Mar 14, 2008 0:26 UTC (Fri) by alfille (subscriber, #1631)Parent article: Quotes of the week
So Linux is not a GNU package? Then shouldn't we stop the silliness of GNU/Linux?
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Quotes of the week
Posted Mar 14, 2008 1:10 UTC (Fri) by lysse (subscriber, #3190) [Link]
That, sir, deserves the Babbage retort.
Quotes of the week
Posted Mar 14, 2008 13:02 UTC (Fri) by alfille (subscriber, #1631) [Link]
I gather you've been waiting for a chance to use that line. Not truly relevant, but the original was clever. I'm not eager to start a flame over this, but the point is that if GNU is a "Brand" or an certification, then imposing it on another product sends a different message. I'm observing that Mr. Stallman's views have either evolved, or are not consistent in this matter.
GNU/Linux terminology
Posted Mar 14, 2008 19:03 UTC (Fri) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954) [Link]
It's all in the typography. There is a world of difference between "GNU Linux," which would refer to a GNU package, and "GNU/Linux," which describes a system created by the GNU project that includes Linux as a principle part (or possibly a combination of the GNU System and Linux).
Maybe Stallman once expected the GNU System to be composed entirely of GNU packages, but if so, then he gave that up long ago, when he saw that useful free software was being developed by others too.
GNU/Linux terminology
Posted Mar 14, 2008 20:08 UTC (Fri) by vonbrand (subscriber, #4458) [Link]
Maybe Stallman once expected the GNU System to be composed entirely of GNU packages, but if so, then he gave that up long ago, when he saw that useful free software was being developed by others too.
Nearly impossible, given that so many huge external pieces are part of the "GNU system" (X Window System, TeX come to mind).
GNU/Linux terminology
Posted Mar 20, 2008 15:09 UTC (Thu) by lysse (subscriber, #3190) [Link]
> or possibly a combination of the GNU System and Linux We have a winner!
Quotes of the week
Posted Mar 20, 2008 15:08 UTC (Thu) by lysse (subscriber, #3190) [Link]
> I gather incorrectly.
Meaning of GNU/Linux
Posted Mar 14, 2008 19:10 UTC (Fri) by speedster1 (subscriber, #8143) [Link]
GNU/Linux never was meant to imply that the Linux kernel was GNU software. It is intended to describe an operating system which is a collection of both the Linux kernel and many userspace libraries and applications, where a sizeable proportion of userspace code *is* GNU software. Note that this description does not fit ALL systems commonly referred to as "Linux", for instance some classes of embedded Linux devices are busybox+custom apps. Although, come to think of it, most of those embedded devices are highly dependent on GNU toolchains... So, Stallman was not being inconsistent. Suppose I referred to my sandwich as "turkey/swiss cheese", but also asserted that the swiss cheese is not itself turkey, and thus does not have to be held to rules that apply to deli meat... would that be inconsistent?
Meaning of GNU/Linux
Posted Mar 14, 2008 21:00 UTC (Fri) by zlynx (subscriber, #2285) [Link]
Follow that pattern, I sometimes describe my system as "Gnome/X/GNU/Linux". Some embedded systems are actually "Qt/BusyBox/Linux" or "FLTK/X/BusyBox/Linux" and there's no GNU in there at all.
Meaning of GNU/Linux
Posted Mar 15, 2008 0:34 UTC (Sat) by alfille (subscriber, #1631) [Link]
So why not GNU/cygwin GNU/freeBSD, etc? It's not that there isn't GNU included in a standard Linux distribution, it's that imposing your name and demanding first billing smacks of jealousy. Demanding that the GNU name be added to any distribution that includes GNU software wasn't originally required.
Meaning of GNU/Linux
Posted Mar 15, 2008 10:30 UTC (Sat) by nix (subscriber, #2304) [Link]
Of course, if we ever get embedded animal tracking chips running free software, we could have GNU/gnu.
Meaning of GNU/Linux
Posted Mar 15, 2008 20:45 UTC (Sat) by speedster1 (subscriber, #8143) [Link]
A lot of free *BSD systems use mostly BSD-derived userspace. However, haven't you heard of "Debian GNU/kFreeBSD"?
Meaning of GNU/Linux
Posted Mar 15, 2008 20:47 UTC (Sat) by speedster1 (subscriber, #8143) [Link]
Oops previous comment about Debian GNU/kFreeBSD ended up under the wrong parent, sorry...
Meaning of GNU/Linux
Posted Mar 17, 2008 1:48 UTC (Mon) by alfille (subscriber, #1631) [Link]
>>So, Stallman was not being inconsistent. Suppose I referred to my sandwich as "turkey/swiss cheese", but also asserted that the swiss cheese is not itself turkey, and thus does not have to be held to rules that apply to deli meat... would that be inconsistent? I insist that all all such sandwiches be called MAYO/swiss/turkey.
Meaning of GNU/Linux
Posted Mar 17, 2008 6:07 UTC (Mon) by speedster1 (subscriber, #8143) [Link]
I refuse to continue this conversation any more, now that you have started disgusting rumors about my poor sandwich. Stallman would NEVER stoop to such depths as accusing me of putting Mayo on my sandwich, whether he is jealous of Linux's fame or not. (Mustard, well maybe, but MAYO!!???)
Meaning of GNU/Linux
Posted Mar 20, 2008 21:12 UTC (Thu) by bronson (subscriber, #4806) [Link]
Look, it's all about choice. Biodiversity. A sandwich monoculture, while convenient today, ends up being harmful in the long run. By Thursday I suspect you'll be tired of mustard...