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Discussion on: So... Linux?

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dharshann profile image
Dharshan Bharathuru • Edited

Oh Pleaseeee!!!!

Am I the only one seeing this post as complete mislead!!? First of all, LINUX is not an operating system, it is just a kernel(a teeny-tiny but very important part) of an OS. GNU/LINUX is the complete Operating System suite. GNU(most of the OS) + Linux (part of the OS, Kernal)

Do give credit to GNU as well, which worked 95% on the so called Operating System you are talking about.

gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.en.html

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leob profile image
leob • Edited

Yes it would have been good to point out GNU (and things like desktop managers, Gnome, KDE etc) ... but talking about giving credit, Linus Torvalds isn't even being mentioned in the article! For the rest, in my opinion this article is a very nice overview for the Linux n00b :-)

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igormp profile image
Igor Moura

Well, every GNU thing can be easily replaced, while you can't easily replace the linux kernel itself for anything better. Also, one could argue that even the Desktop Environment plays a bigger role than the GNU software.

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dharshann profile image
Dharshan Bharathuru • Edited

I completely agree with the adaptability and different flavours. But we should not forget the effort of GNU team put in making a FOSS Operating System against all proprietary giants at that time. And am not dis-honouring the contribution of Linus Torvalds as well, he has done a tremendous job. What we should not do is praise or give credit only to Linux or Torvalds. Please give credits to GNU as well.

When Mr. Torvalds made his kernel FOSS, there was a similar project called HURD going on with GNU to replace Unix kernel.

What I actually mean is , people who write/speak about Linux Operating System and don't know/mention about GNU, they should revise their knowledge base!!

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igormp profile image
Igor Moura

HURD was, and still is, not really useful for anything.

I don't think GNU deserves any other mention that what it already has in the license files and some package names.

Even in the link you posted they base relevance on line of code amount. If we go by that metric, then even a web browser deserves way more credits than GNU itself due to their higher LoC amont, but we don't see anyone calling their systems Chrome/Linux or Firefox/BSD.

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dharshann profile image
Dharshan Bharathuru

I do think GNU deserves a mention.

If Linux was solely developed, and not combined with an OS like suite(which was already present) no one would have used it. Or if GNU tried (still trying to write a completely Free kernel) it would have been ages to see a Free and Open Source Operating System. By the time we all would have became slaves to big tech conglomerate.

A complete FOSS OS is true now because of both GNU and Linux so they does deserve mentioning.