On Thu, 17 Jan 2002, Michael Goetze wrote: > Yeah, like, for instance, the mailing program you're using obviously has > nothing to do with GNU...
(Off-topic: if anyone is interested in testing my non-GNU, queueing, non-port-listening, non-daemon, SMTP, sendmail replacement, let me know. http://www.reedmedia.net/software/mailout/) > The reason why we should call this a GNU system is that it is the GNU project > is the reason why free operating systems are popular at all nowadays. Are you I disagree. It is *one* of the reasons. > one of those people who thinks "Linux" popped up because Linus > Torvalds wrote a kernel and then looked around for a userland to go > with it and by pure coincidence he found everything he needed? *clue > bat* That wasn't a coincident at all, it was a result of the GNU > project, which was started back when Linus Torvalds was running around > in diapers. And GNU/Linux is what has made free operating systems > popular. I know "diapers" is an exaggeration. But it is important to note that a lot of freely-distributable, open source was available before GNU existed. > And even though we in this case have chosen not to use the GNU Kernel > (which, BTW, is called "HURD") nor the GNU C Library, we still have > tons of GNU software involved. autoconf, bash, binutils, bison, chill, > cpio, cpp, file, fileutils, findutils, gcc, info, less, m4, make, sed, > shellutils, tar, etc. Not exactly small stuff. Yes, but as another poster suggested -- it would be nice for the Debian administrator to be able to choose to use BSD equivalents. And be sure to note that many Debian-packaged software and resources are not GNU-related. And most importantly, many of the key "Debian NetBSD" utilities are not GPL'd. > The Debian Project has chosen to associate itself with the ideals of the GNU > project and develop GNU-based and/or GNU-like operating systems, and that's It seems like it has been hard to decide to even call it GNU/Linux. (If I recall correctly, it was sometimes changed back and forth.) > what we are doing here. We might as well say so. Please don't say "we". I personally feel like I am sometimes forced to use GPL'd projects. (This is getting off-topic for this list, but I'd be glad to expand on this.) I am here because I have enjoyed administrating Debian systems. Debian has useful tools and an easy-to-use and robust packaging system that save a lot of time. (Yes, I agree that many of the tools are GPL'd.) I am also here because I enjoy using BSD operating systems due to their organized layout, great stability and performance, and generous licensing. My vote is for "Debian NetBSD". Jeremy C. Reed
