Why is Fedora not a Free GNU/Linux distributions?

[Gordon Messmer]

John Cornelius wrote:
> Gordon Messmer wrote:
>> Can you cite any consensus based definition of "operating system" 
>> other than what you've provided?  I think that the POSIX specification 
>> is generally agreed to be the definition of one operating system 
>> interface, and it includes the shells, editors, compilers, etc that 
>> you've decided aren't part of an operating system.
> I suppose that would be because the writers of the POSIX specification 
> didn't think it through.

That's awfully dismissive of the work done by the people who actually 
participated in the design, documentation and implementations of 
operating systems.

>> I think that the GNU developers disagree with you.  What makes your 
>> opinion more valid than theirs?
> Perhaps they do and they are free to do so but they are incorrect and 
> your own argument makes the point. You are trying to separate the kernel 
> (and its related facilities) from the operating system and

Actually, I'm not.  I'm arguing that the POSIX specification includes 
both kernel, C programming, and user interfaces, and that GNU/Linux 
implements (more or less) the POSIX specification while Linux does not. 
  By POSIX standads, GNU/Linux is an OS as is GNU/kFreeBSD, etc.

>>> GNU is not Linux and Linux is not GNU, it's just an evolution of a 
>>> movement started by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie nearly 40 years ago.
>>>
>>> Whoda thunk?
>>
>> I think you're giving Ken and Dennis too much credit.
> I do not give Kenny and Denny too much credit, if anything I have not 
> given them enough credit.

I don't think I was very clear about that statement, so let me rephrase it.

I have never seen any reason to believe that Ken and Dennis have ever 
been interested in Free Software.  I personally object to the statement 
that GNU is an evolution of a movement started by Ken and Dennis because 
it implies that they were or are involved in the development of Free 
Software.  I'd love be shown wrong, as I have a great deal of respect 
for their technical achievements, and would only respect them more if 
they were a part of the Free Software community.