From: "Drew Adams" <drew.adams@oracle.com>
Subject: RE: "MIT/GNU/Linux"
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2007 00:17:29 -0800 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <DNEMKBNJBGPAOPIJOOICCEEODKAA.drew.adams@oracle.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <jwvd55w62np.fsf-monnier+gnu.emacs.help@gnu.org>
> I believe RMS's use of "GNU" in "GNU/Linux" does not really refer to the
> so-called GNU tools, but the GNU project which endeavored, long before it
> seemed even remotely possible, to build a 100% Free Software operating
> system. To this end, it built tools like gcc, it designed
> licenses such as
> the GPL, it encouraged other people to release their code under a Free
> license, and it kind of brought some sense and long term vision to all the
> "free hacking" that was going on piecemeal around the world.
Well put. The "GNU = surrounding tools or environment" characterization is
too often too prevalent in these discussions. You put it right, IMO.
That said, getting people to refer to the OS as "GNU/Linux" might be a
losing, though worthwhile, battle, if only because people do take shortcuts
in speech. If the OS name were only one or two syllables, the battle would
be easier. If "GNU" didn't mean more than just an OS, one might try to push
to use just "GNU" instead of "GNU/Linux" - easier to say. If it were used
alone as the name for the OS, however, "GNU" would be more general than
"GNU/Linux", since, as someone pointed out, a different GNU kernel (e.g.
HURD) could be used. GNU/Linux is no doubt the right term for a GNU OS with
a Linux kernel, but it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.
(I really wanted just to say "attaboy" for what you wrote.)
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2007-01-03 8:17 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 39+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2006-12-27 11:46 gnu vs. xemacs H.
2006-12-27 12:57 ` Lennart Borgman (gmail)
2006-12-27 13:10 ` Peter Dyballa
2006-12-27 13:59 ` Sven Bretfeld
2006-12-28 10:27 ` Ramprasad
[not found] ` <mailman.2429.1167301573.2155.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2006-12-28 11:27 ` Tim X
2006-12-28 18:57 ` Matthew Flaschen
[not found] ` <mailman.2457.1167332268.2155.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2006-12-28 23:53 ` Tim X
2006-12-29 1:12 ` Leo
2006-12-29 12:46 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" (was: gnu vs. xemacs) B. Smith-Mannschott
2006-12-29 13:59 ` Micha Feigin
2006-12-29 14:17 ` Gian Uberto Lauri
2006-12-29 17:27 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Alexey Pustyntsev
2006-12-29 18:35 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Kim F. Storm
[not found] ` <mailman.2488.1167400944.2155.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2006-12-29 15:29 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Giorgos Keramidas
2006-12-30 0:28 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Tim X
2006-12-30 6:05 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Matthew Flaschen
[not found] ` <mailman.2537.1167458715.2155.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2006-12-30 12:09 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Tim X
2006-12-30 17:13 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Matthew Flaschen
[not found] ` <mailman.2550.1167498938.2155.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2006-12-31 2:36 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Tim X
2006-12-31 15:42 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Giorgos Keramidas
2007-01-01 2:45 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Tim X
2006-12-31 15:34 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Giorgos Keramidas
2007-01-01 2:21 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Tim X
2006-12-29 23:12 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Jay Belanger
2006-12-30 15:13 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Micha Feigin
[not found] ` <mailman.2547.1167491771.2155.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2006-12-30 17:19 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Robert Thorpe
2006-12-30 17:49 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" (was: gnu vs. xemacs) Robert Thorpe
2006-12-30 19:20 ` Matthew Flaschen
[not found] ` <mailman.2487.1167396377.2155.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2007-01-03 6:42 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Stefan Monnier
2007-01-03 8:17 ` Drew Adams [this message]
2007-01-03 10:03 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Matthew Flaschen
[not found] ` <mailman.2685.1167818637.2155.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2007-01-03 20:33 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Stefan Monnier
2007-01-04 9:14 ` "MIT/GNU/Linux" Matthew Flaschen
[not found] ` <mailman.2475.1167354778.2155.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2006-12-29 18:23 ` gnu vs. xemacs Hadron Quark
2006-12-29 18:32 ` Ralf Angeli
2006-12-27 19:52 ` David Kastrup
2006-12-28 14:36 ` insert name
2006-12-28 20:25 ` David Kastrup
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