MIT/BSD/Apache/KDE/Mozilla/Sun/(etcetera, ad infinitum)/GNU/Linux ;)
Sounds indepth, though the generalization is clear. Unlike the rest of the contributor, almost every desktop 'Linux System' [we used] today was made functional by the GNU system (basically a full system minus the kernel). Linux is merely a kernel. GNU is a project towards a complete system. They are 2 separate projects altogether. The situation is, GNU project, together with GNU kernel is yet completed, since many effort was still put into other system components. GNU borrowed the then just released FOSS linux kernel to make it function, it could use Unix (which it was developed on), but it wouldnt be a free system for the public if thats the case. When this huge project complete (which is sooner or later), we will see a GNU System (w/o Linux). GNU project was nice enough to put the name 'Linux' with the 'GNU' to form the 'GNU/Linux' system name, seeing that its a kernel they are using, so i think its rude to remove 'GNU' away. No doubt one can use Linux with Apache and call it Apache/Linux, or a with BSD system and call it 'BSD/Linux'. In fact BSD/Linux exist and is called that name, since calling it 'Linux' again mix it up with those running GNU, Apache or Sun. But whatever it is, this isn't the argument here, so leave it out. If you are simply thinking about it as crediting individual contributors/projects, it is actually more than just that. It is crediting the GNU System itself [for making all these possible], not its creators. It is not asking you to call it the Stallmanix-system. In fact, calling the desktop system "Linux' alone for a GNU/Linux system take it for-granted that a 'Linux' system will contain GNU, which [like mentioned] doesn't make sense when other system body is in place. Debian GNU/Linux is an example of a distribution which reflect the proper name of the system. Even Sun refer to it as GNU/Linux. As 'Linux'-lover, I doubt anyone here want to see Linux becoming just a footnote of the new Windows 2012 Operating system or whichever distributions. Its a mistake, which is becoming harder to correct over time. Everyone commit mistake. Not correcting mistakes does not mean there is none. Though controversial and sensitive, running away from it does not make one seems more wise anyway. I sincerely hope the Singapore GNU/Linux community can be ahead of the rest of the world on just this one, not more =)
I think this thread is pointless..
As pointless as how one perceive it =) Thanks for reading. -- Lam YongXian Adolflam.com FSF Member #5279 Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments. See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html _______________________________________________ Slugnet mailing list [email protected] http://www.lugs.org.sg/mailman/listinfo/slugnet
