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I'd just like to interject for a moment
I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.
Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called Linux, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.
There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called Linux distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.




I am a long time advocate of GNU/Linux and I still want to hit you for this..
This was written by GNU: https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.en.html
Actually, I'm pretty sure it's /g/ copypasta, but yeah, parts of it are from that page.
Earliest use I can find: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlD9UBTcSW4
Your 2nd and 3rd paragraphs are the same, the first one isn't. Since I don't go to 4chan I am not sure where this is from.
Dang, I didn't even notice -- thanks for pointing that out. And 4chan is pretty racist/homophobic/transphobic/*phobic and not particularly worthwhile, so I don't blame you at all fam
I know. This and eating toe nails on stage are contributing factors as to why Richard Stallman is seen as a nut though.
I just don't go there because it has too much captchas, also because I am not interested in sharing images, I prefer text posts.
The original article is longer. Wikipedia also has a nice article about this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU/Linux_naming_controversy
Personal opinion: the widespread and regular usage of a word is what gives the word its meaning, dictionaries are just reflections of the real world usage of a word; if everyone calls "Linux" what was once known as "GNU/Linux" then they effectively become synonymous.
I hear you, but personally, I prefer "GNU/Linux" because it lacks the ambiguity of referring to the combination of the Linux kernel and userspace tools (like GNU) as the name of the kernel, "Linux."
Still, I don't say "GNU/Linux" in person. I agree -- very few people know what it means, and it's incredibly awkward to pronounce.
I understand you but I don't see any ambiguity, we say "Linux" when we mean "GNU/Linux" and since we only talk about the kernel with other people who use use Linux we just say say "the kernel" and everyone understands. When talking to people outside the community we say "the Linux kernel" and they will understand.
It's ok. Soon enough GNU/Linux will simply be known as systemd.
I have to agree with the point on pronunciation. Saying "guh-noo" is awkward, but what's even more awkward is when someone asks what it means... It's hard to be taken seriously when using an undefined acronym to define itself, and it sounds ridiculous to boot.
My guess is people defaulted to calling it Linux because it sounds "cooler" and rolls of the tongue easier. I have the utmost respect for the hard work done by the countless developers that made GNU what it is today, but maybe it's time the GNU Project gave itself a better name.
GNU/Linux is misleading, many computer users may not understand that GNU/Linux isn't just a piece of sofware (PoS) or even the title of a group of commonly derived software (GoCDS), but an Operating System and Extensive Collection of Computer Software. So obviously what the full title really is is "GNU/Linux-OS/eXCCS" (without the quotes). Anything else will lead to needless confusions.
There is no system but GNU, and Linux is one of its kernels.
Sorry guys, we had to get this over with
Not sure it really needed to start. Most people in this community likely already know this. As Rin mentioned the word Linux is synonymous with GNU/Linux. No need to split hairs for the sake of argument.
http://i.imgur.com/nNGMnFa.jpg
There are alternative userlands for Linux. Quite a few projects have explored the BSD userland. Android, in particular, is largely devoid of GNU components. dd-wrt is another example of a distribution largely devoid of GNU components. SSD/Linux runs the Linux kernel on the NetBSD userland.
Mostly, you are correct, but given the number of combinations out there today, this is only completely true for distributions that users install on their systems, if they stick to one of the more popular distributions. A good ecosystem is one built on choices, and there are alternatives out there. Hell, people have gone in the opposite direction and taken alternative kernels and ported them to the GNU userland. Minix uses quite a few GNU components. Debian/kFreeBSD uses the FreeBSD kernel on top of a GNU userland.
The nice thing about a (mostly) Unix compatible kernel is that it can be coerced to run (mostly) Unix compatible userlands.