that old GNU/Linux argument

Björn Persson listor3.rombobeorn at tdcpost.se
Mon Jul 21 21:33:17 UTC 2008


måndagen den 21 juli 2008 skrev Les Mikesell:
> Björn Persson wrote:
> > You're still talking as if your opponents want to name entire
> > distributions "GNU/Linux". I'm not so sure that there really is anyone
> > who wants to name entire distributions "GNU/Linux". Are you sure that
> > there are people who want to do this? Do you have any evidence?
>
> I don't have much occasion to talk about a subset that is more than a
> kernel and less than a distribution with real applications so I'm not
> sure where or why such a name would be used.

It could for example be used in sentences like these:

"Fedora is a collection of programs and libraries built around the operating 
system GNU/Linux."
"GNU/Linux is a good operating system to run a web server on."
"Specialized firewalls, NAS devices and other appliances often run slimmed 
versions of GNU/Linux."

Nobody is asking you to talk about it every day if you don't have a reason. 
All they ask for is that you call it "GNU/Linux" instead of "Linux" when you 
do talk about it. If you're talking about an entire distribution then you're 
welcome to just call it "Fedora", but if you're going to include "Linux" in 
the name of the distribution, then they ask you to also unclude "GNU".

At least I think that's the FSF's position.

Björn Persson




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