Iโd just like to interject for a moment. What youโre refering to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as Iโve recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.
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 machineโs 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!
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Ironically, people making fun of the "Gnu/Linux" copypasta is probably one of the main ways people know what Gnu is | NodeBB Community
What is the greatest Linux copypasta of all time?
GNU + Linux
No, Richard, it's 'Linux', not 'GNU/Linux'.
The most important contributions that the FSF made to Linux were the creation of the GPL and the GCC compiler.
I know, you're talking about the kernel here.
By my definition, an operating system is that software which provides and limits access to hardware resources on a computer.
That's your definition. In fact, software which provides and limits access to hardware resources on a computer is called a OS kernel. See what ya missed there? Networking, security and UI. Linux itself doesn't support userspace (ask Mr. Torvalds why).
Take your beef to Red Hat, Mandrake, and Slackware.
Debian already did what we need.
However, I submit to you that raw LOC numbers do not directly correlate with importance. I would suggest that clock cycles spent on code is a better metric.
My metric would be what you really use. I know, you might not be like me, or the majority of the users back then, use mostly GNU's products for their everyday work. bash. screen. coreutils. emacs. gnome. There are many alternatives, but that was (and is) what the users choose to use. Hence the name GNU/Linux. GNU userspace on top of the Linux kernel. Now probably it's not 100% correct and your XFree86/GNU/Linux name makes sense (it would even make more sense if you add systemd and the *Kit stuffs there), but Linux is still a f*kin kernel. You're not the owner of it, you don't have the right to decide. Even Torvalds says he excepts to call the OS Linux because too many do so, so for the sake of communication...
In a show of proper respect and gratitude, shouldn't you and everyone refer to GCC as 'the Linux compiler'?
No? Because if you ever try to write something cross-platform, you will have to use it. Don't even try to fill me with the MS VS compiler bullshit.
Languishing with the HURD?
Good joke, but bad joke here. Hurd is supposed to be a research kernel, so there is no point pointing out that it's not production-ready.
Also, be especially grateful for Linux' huge contribution to that success. You, RMS, the Free Software Foundation, and GNU software have reached their current high profiles largely on the back of Linux.
We are all grateful of each others' work. GNU people always credit Linux and Linus always mention GNU in his talks. Only evil companies (IBM, Intel, Amazon, Google, Microsoft) trying to hide the idea of free software avoid letting people know about GNU and the FSF. Please don't be like them. Maybe RMS is a bit of a cocky extremist, but he is just fighting for us. And definitely Linux as what people talking right now is not an OS. We are not talking about Android. Or ChromeOS. Or your fridge and microwave at home. We are talking about a full-fledged operating system containing a great amount of GNU and Linux software that we use in our everyday work and entertainment. If you're not comfortable with the name GNU/Linux, use Linux distribution. It doesn't hurt saying an extra word, well, does it?
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