GNU/Linux or Linux alone?

amiatrome · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 3:00 pm Post subject: GNU/Linux or Linux alone?

GNU/Linux or Linux alone? I am curious about the position Gentooers take.

Here's why it may matter.
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shash · Apprentice Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 220 Location: India

Oh, it depends - When around people who know that GNU's in there, I omit it. Even otherwise, I just drop it, in casual conversation. It's only when I find someone having a wrong impression (Linux 9, anyone? :roll:

).

I think it's technically right, but there's no other real choice - if someone made a BSD base system on top of a Linux kernel or something, it makes more sense, but being just GNU and Linux, there's no real point, except for those who are like I mentioned.

codergeek42 · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 3:10 pm Post subject:

GNU/Linux
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carbon · Guru Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 455 Location: New York

AFAIK, Linux is the name of the kernel that Linus Torvalds wrote in 1991.

GNU is an organization that develop open source software. Since distributions started to use GNU's softwre to go with the Kernel called Linux, so I guess they should be called GNU/Linux system.

However, people tend to like shorter simpler name, so somehow people started to call their systems a Linux system since the Kernel (seems like the most important part of a system) is called Linux.

That's my understanding and please correct me if I am wrong.
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Syntaxis · Guru Joined: 28 Apr 2002 Posts: 511 Location: London, UK

I tend to just abide by the distro's own choice in the matter. So: Debian GNU/Linux, Gentoo Linux, etc...
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chunderbunny · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 3:16 pm Post subject:

Linux is just easier to say, GNU/Linux is a horrible name IMO.

nightm4re · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 3:20 pm Post subject:

reisio · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Posts: 120

officially, GNU/Linux

when I know I'm not talking to idiots, Linux

when I know I'm talking to ignorant people, GNU/Linux

skunkworx · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 4:50 pm Post subject:

pjp · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 5:17 pm Post subject:

Just Linux. Simply because RMS is militant about GNU/Linux. Linux is easier to say, too.

@ RMS.
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chunderbunny · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 5:23 pm Post subject:

Every time I see "RMS" mentioned I have to remind myself it doesn't stand for "Root Mean Square"

Zaphod42 · n00b Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Kanadia

Gentoo

LucaSpiller · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 6:25 pm Post subject:

Linux is much easier - and if you are talking to Windosey people they probably won't have a clue what you are on about if you say GNU/Linux, but may understand just Linux.

I think GNU/Linux is just for people who want to be correct about everything they say - for example you aren't going to go around saying Microsoft Windows all the time instead of just Windows (or whatever else you call it

).

Also Linux has been worked on by many thousands (is that a bit exagerated?) of people - it seems a bit unfair that one organisation has its name in the title but everyone else gets left out.

Athas · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 6:40 pm Post subject:

I always use GNU/Linux when writing, even to the point of calling Gentoo, Gentoo GNU/Linux, even though it's not the correct name. I believe the FSF requires acknowledgement for their technical as well as philosophical contributions. Basically, what we run is really nothing but GNU with a Linux kernel and a swanky package manager.

In speech, though, I merely use "Linux" since saying "GNU/Linux" might instead come off as "GNU Linux," and I believe we can all agree that Linux is not a part of GNU.

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Stormy Eyes · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 8:16 pm Post subject:

codergeek42 · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 8:24 pm Post subject:

pjp · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 8:28 pm Post subject:

placeholder · Advocate Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 2500

I usually say Linux, but I often write/type it as GNU/Linux.

codergeek42 · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 12:02 am Post subject:

geniux · Veteran Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 1400 Location: /home

Linux when I talk about it and GNU/Linux when write/type it.
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steel300 · Veteran Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 1155

I don't think it matters what you call it. It's still the same thing.

Roguelazer · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:09 am Post subject:

Linux. I mean, if we're going to throw in GNU, we might as well throw in every other group that's contributed something. So let's just not and stick to the kernel. Besides, "Linux" is easier to pronounce then "Guh-new Slash Linux"
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pjp · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:24 am Post subject:

Moved from Gentoo Chat.
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j-rock · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 3:09 am Post subject:

HydroSan · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 3:19 am Post subject:

If I were to write a professional article on Linux, I would use GNU/Linux.

If I were talking to anybody, the non-savvy people would know what it is, and the people that do know already know what the GNU is, I would just use 'Linux'.

GNU/* is like adding 'Sir' or "Ma'am' in from of the name. It's formal, but you usually don't use it unless your in a formal setting.
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