that old GNU/Linux argument

[Andrew Kelly]

On Mon, 2008-07-14 at 23:25 -0300, Alexandre Oliva wrote:
> On Jul 14, 2008, Tim <ignored_mailbox at yahoo.com.au> wrote:

<snip for brevity>

> Except that what you call Linux software isn't actually for Linux.
> Have you ever heard of Nexenta (GNU/kOpenSolaris), Debian
> GNU/kFreeBSD, and even UnixWare?
> 
> If you take *GNU* libc, rebuild it to target a different kernel while
> exporting the same ABI, and voila, you can drop Linux entirely from
> what you call a Linux Operating System, and pretty much all
> applications will still work just the same.  Because they're not
> applications for Linux.  They're applications for GNU libc.  They
> couldn't care less that they're running on top of the kernel Linux.
> For them, the kernel is irrelevant.
> 
> Next frequently raised fallacious objections?

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you "the sound of a shoe dropping".
[applause]

That was a fabulous exchange, very well stated, very well explained.

Alexandre, very impressed with your ability to avoid vitriolic and
abusive tone. Very impressed.

Andy