So, when do we switch to calling this mailing list SGlugNet?
Mohit.
John Thng wrote:
Hi,
Two points I've found.
1) Calling this variant of the GNU system "Linux" plays into the hands
of people who choose their software based only on technical advantage,
not caring whether it respects their freedom.^[9]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU/Linux_naming_controversy#_note-6>
2) The use of the word "Linux" to refer to the kernel, the operating
system, and entire distributions
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_distribution>, often leads to
confusion about the distinctions between the three. Many GNU packages
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GNU_packages> are a key part of
almost every Linux distribution. Media sources frequently make
erroneous statements such as claiming that the entire Linux operating
system (rather than simply the kernel) was written from scratch by
Torvalds in 1991;^ [/citation needed/]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources> that Torvalds
directs the development of other components such as graphical
interfaces or the GNU tools; or that new releases of the kernel
involve a similar degree of user-visible change as do new versions of
proprietary <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprietary_software>
operating systems such as Microsoft Windows
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows>, where many things
besides the kernel change simultaneously.
Some argue, that technically or historical it shouldn't be named this way.
I posting one article from one link I've given.
[Start]
GNU Users who have Never Heard of GNU
by Richard Stallman
Most people have never heard of GNU. Even most of the people who use
the GNU system have never heard of GNU, thanks to so many people and
companies who teach them to call it "Linux". Nonetheless, the name GNU
has certain associations, which people will discover once they hear
the name. GNU is associated with the ideals of freedom of the free
software movement. That association is no accident; the motive for
developing GNU was specifically to make it possible to use a computer
and have freedom.
The association between the name GNU and our goals of freedom and
social solidarity exists in the minds of hundreds of thousands of
GNU/Linux users that do know about GNU. It exists in Wikipedia. And it
exists around the web; if these users search for GNU, they will find
www.gnu.org <http://www.gnu.org/>, which talks about free software and
freedom.
A person seeing the name "GNU" for the first time in "GNU/Linux" won't
immediately associate it with anything. However, when people know that
the system is basically GNU, that brings them a step closer to
learning about our ideals. For instance, they might become curious and
look for more information about GNU.
If they don't look for it, they may encounter it anyway. The "open
source" rhetoric tends to lead people's attention away from issues of
users' freedom, but not totally; there is still discussion of GNU and
free software, and people have some chance of coming across it. When
that happens, the reader is more likely to pay attention to
information about GNU (such as that it's the work of a campaign for
freedom and community) if he knows he is a user of the GNU system.
Over time, calling the system "GNU/Linux" spreads awareness of the
ideals of freedom for which we developed the GNU system. It is also
useful as a reminder for people in our community who know about these
ideals, in a world where much of discussion of free software takes a
totally practical (and thus amoral) approach. When we ask you to call
the system "GNU/Linux", we do so because awareness of GNU slowly but
surely brings with it awareness of the free software ideals of freedom
and community.
[end]
The last sentence is my point.
Because GNU is associated with software freedom so putting it
GNU/Linux might bring out the awareness of software freedom out
better. And while people can choose to call GNU/Linux or Linux, but do
other new faces can choose not to be mislead of the term Linux, which
at times means alternative OS, and not freedom OS? Linux means the
name of the kernel in the first place. A kernel is part of but not
full operating system. I don't want to touch on technical terms such
as GNU and other libraries are used in the operating system, nor touch
on historically, it should be called GNU/Linux. But since GNU term is
associated with software freedom, it should be advisable to call it
this way. Free/Linux or Freedom/Linux sounds awful. GNU/Linux sounds
much nicer, since we should look at the core philosophy of GNU. GNU
does not equal to GPL. There are few compatible licenses that are
under GNU.
In the first place, there's Emacs General Public License, the GCC
General Public License, and others, and GPL is not invented at that
time. A lot of people just associate licenses to the naming, which I
don't see the point.
As for the name,
Free Software Philosophy and Linux work hand in hand, to make it so
successful.
This explains the name GNU/Linux better also. We shouldn't be miss
out this point also.
Regards
John
On 6/20/07, *Anton* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote:
nop. This is only one point of view.
Many people including myself strongly disagree with it.
For more details see wiki link, posted by Eugene in the very first
reply:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU/Linux_naming_controversy
So, would you rather agree with Linus, Linux creator?
Arguments for "Linux":
Linus Torvalds has said in the documentary Revolution OS, when asked
if the name GNU/Linux was justified:
Well, I think it's justified, but it's justified if you actually make
a GNU distribution of Linux ... the same way that I think that "Red
Hat Linux" is fine, or "SuSE Linux" or "Debian Linux," because if you
actually make your own distribution of Linux, you get to name the
thing, but calling Linux in general "GNU Linux" I think is just
ridiculous.[23]
Finally I found this quote. That's exactly my point.
"Ridiculous" is the right word.
Regards,
Anton
On 20/06/07, John Thng <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote:
> Hello people, I think all should read these articles below also,
before
> commenting further.
> http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html
> http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-users-never-heard-of-gnu.html
<http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-users-never-heard-of-gnu.html>
> http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html
>
> A lot of questions are asked and answered in the first link.
>
> Regards
> John
>
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