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* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
@ 2016-12-23 16:42 Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-23 17:35 ` David Craven
                   ` (3 more replies)
  0 siblings, 4 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer @ 2016-12-23 16:42 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: 25254

It would be better to be consistent with the home page and make clear
that GuixSD is a GNU distribution, with Linux-libre being the default
kernel for the foreseeable future.

Background: Wikipedia has a policy to call GNU/Linux distributions
"Linux distribution" because that wrong term is more commonly used by
the public.  To define GuixSD as a "GNU/Linux distribution" gives them
in turn justification to define it as a "Linux distribution" instead.

Taylan

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 16:42 bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution" Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
@ 2016-12-23 17:35 ` David Craven
  2016-12-23 18:51   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-24 19:49   ` Mike Gerwitz
  2016-12-24 21:24 ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
                   ` (2 subsequent siblings)
  3 siblings, 2 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: David Craven @ 2016-12-23 17:35 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer; +Cc: 25254

> It would be better to be consistent with the home page and make clear
> that GuixSD is a GNU distribution, with Linux-libre being the default
> kernel for the foreseeable future.

> Background: Wikipedia has a policy to call GNU/Linux distributions
> "Linux distribution" because that wrong term is more commonly used by
> the public.  To define GuixSD as a "GNU/Linux distribution" gives them
> in turn justification to define it as a "Linux distribution" instead.

That's a sound decision, who knows what a GNU distribution is? People
are confused enough on this topic, no need to let them believe that
this is something totally different.

When I refer to the term operating system - I'm mostly referring to
the meaning in the sense of kernel, again usually I use unprecise
terms to communicate efficiently with people who get distracted by my
usage of preciser terms. Everybody knows the word OS but may not know
what a kernel is.

Besides on most systems there is a lot more software than just what is
provided by GNU or Linux. If we want to be precise we can call it a
mostly POSIX distribution. People might be more aware of the term
POSIX than the term GNU (from my limited sampling at a technical
university), while also providing information or meaning. Calling it a
GNU system is just as descriptive as calling it a Linux system or a
Guix system or a remotely similar to Mac OS X system or a Windows with
cygwin system without windows.

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 17:35 ` David Craven
@ 2016-12-23 18:51   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-23 19:36     ` David Craven
  2016-12-24 19:49   ` Mike Gerwitz
  1 sibling, 1 reply; 19+ messages in thread
From: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer @ 2016-12-23 18:51 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: David Craven; +Cc: 25254

David Craven <david@craven.ch> writes:

>> It would be better to be consistent with the home page and make clear
>> that GuixSD is a GNU distribution, with Linux-libre being the default
>> kernel for the foreseeable future.
>
>> Background: Wikipedia has a policy to call GNU/Linux distributions
>> "Linux distribution" because that wrong term is more commonly used by
>> the public.  To define GuixSD as a "GNU/Linux distribution" gives them
>> in turn justification to define it as a "Linux distribution" instead.
>
> That's a sound decision, who knows what a GNU distribution is? People
> are confused enough on this topic, no need to let them believe that
> this is something totally different.
>
> When I refer to the term operating system - I'm mostly referring to
> the meaning in the sense of kernel, again usually I use unprecise
> terms to communicate efficiently with people who get distracted by my
> usage of preciser terms. Everybody knows the word OS but may not know
> what a kernel is.
>
> Besides on most systems there is a lot more software than just what is
> provided by GNU or Linux. If we want to be precise we can call it a
> mostly POSIX distribution. People might be more aware of the term
> POSIX than the term GNU (from my limited sampling at a technical
> university), while also providing information or meaning. Calling it a
> GNU system is just as descriptive as calling it a Linux system or a
> Guix system or a remotely similar to Mac OS X system or a Windows with
> cygwin system without windows.

I don't think this is the place to discuss that particular issue at
large.  That can be done on Wikipedia, or elsewhere.

I think the Guix project authors probably agree on GuixSD being defined
as a GNU distribution.  The question is whether or not to make the About
page consistent with that.

Taylan

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 18:51   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
@ 2016-12-23 19:36     ` David Craven
  2016-12-23 20:55       ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  0 siblings, 1 reply; 19+ messages in thread
From: David Craven @ 2016-12-23 19:36 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer; +Cc: 25254

> I don't think this is the place to discuss that particular issue at
> large.  That can be done on Wikipedia, or elsewhere.

> I think the Guix project authors probably agree on GuixSD being defined
> as a GNU distribution.  The question is whether or not to make the About
> page consistent with that.

Ah sorry, I misunderstood your intention. I thought this was about
changing a Wikipedia article.

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 19:36     ` David Craven
@ 2016-12-23 20:55       ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-23 21:28         ` David Craven
  0 siblings, 1 reply; 19+ messages in thread
From: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer @ 2016-12-23 20:55 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: David Craven; +Cc: 25254

David Craven <david@craven.ch> writes:

>> I don't think this is the place to discuss that particular issue at
>> large.  That can be done on Wikipedia, or elsewhere.
>
>> I think the Guix project authors probably agree on GuixSD being defined
>> as a GNU distribution.  The question is whether or not to make the About
>> page consistent with that.
>
> Ah sorry, I misunderstood your intention. I thought this was about
> changing a Wikipedia article.

No problem.

Using accurate terminology on Wikipedia is an intention of mine, and
changing the About page (and the FSF's endorsed distros page) not to
call GuixSD a GNU/Linux distro would help in that regard, but it's
arguably a petty issue so I don't intend to bother others with it. :-)
(And a guix bug report wouldn't be the place to discuss it anyway.)

Taylan

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 20:55       ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
@ 2016-12-23 21:28         ` David Craven
  2016-12-23 21:32           ` Leo Famulari
  2016-12-24 11:06           ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  0 siblings, 2 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: David Craven @ 2016-12-23 21:28 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer; +Cc: 25254

> Using accurate terminology on Wikipedia is an intention of mine, and
> changing the About page (and the FSF's endorsed distros page) not to
> call GuixSD a GNU/Linux distro would help in that regard, but it's
> arguably a petty issue so I don't intend to bother others with it. :-)
> (And a guix bug report wouldn't be the place to discuss it anyway.)

I totally agree that it is a petty issue, so why did you bring it up?
If people start bike shedding topics it is only fair that everyone
else can bikeshed in the same thread, since you are filling my inbox
with pointless emails. Gmail doesn't have a filter for bikeshedding.

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 21:28         ` David Craven
@ 2016-12-23 21:32           ` Leo Famulari
  2016-12-24 11:06           ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  1 sibling, 0 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: Leo Famulari @ 2016-12-23 21:32 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: David Craven; +Cc: 25254

On Fri, Dec 23, 2016 at 10:28:01PM +0100, David Craven wrote:
> > Using accurate terminology on Wikipedia is an intention of mine, and
> > changing the About page (and the FSF's endorsed distros page) not to
> > call GuixSD a GNU/Linux distro would help in that regard, but it's
> > arguably a petty issue so I don't intend to bother others with it. :-)
> > (And a guix bug report wouldn't be the place to discuss it anyway.)
> 
> I totally agree that it is a petty issue, so why did you bring it up?
> If people start bike shedding topics it is only fair that everyone
> else can bikeshed in the same thread, since you are filling my inbox
> with pointless emails. Gmail doesn't have a filter for bikeshedding.

I'm sure we can use "machine learning" to make this filter ;)

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 21:28         ` David Craven
  2016-12-23 21:32           ` Leo Famulari
@ 2016-12-24 11:06           ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  1 sibling, 0 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer @ 2016-12-24 11:06 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: David Craven; +Cc: 25254

David Craven <david@craven.ch> writes:

>> Using accurate terminology on Wikipedia is an intention of mine, and
>> changing the About page (and the FSF's endorsed distros page) not to
>> call GuixSD a GNU/Linux distro would help in that regard, but it's
>> arguably a petty issue so I don't intend to bother others with it. :-)
>> (And a guix bug report wouldn't be the place to discuss it anyway.)
>
> I totally agree that it is a petty issue, so why did you bring it up?
> If people start bike shedding topics it is only fair that everyone
> else can bikeshed in the same thread, since you are filling my inbox
> with pointless emails. Gmail doesn't have a filter for bikeshedding.

You're the only one who's been responding to the thread.  Please take it
off the bug ML unless you have something on-topic to say; I won't be
responding any further here.  No offense meant.  Thank you.

Taylan

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 17:35 ` David Craven
  2016-12-23 18:51   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
@ 2016-12-24 19:49   ` Mike Gerwitz
  1 sibling, 0 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: Mike Gerwitz @ 2016-12-24 19:49 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: David Craven; +Cc: 25254

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On Fri, Dec 23, 2016 at 18:35:26 +0100, David Craven wrote:
> Besides on most systems there is a lot more software than just what is
> provided by GNU or Linux. If we want to be precise we can call it a
> mostly POSIX distribution.

It's a common misunderstanding that "GNU" refers to only to GNU
programs.  GNU is a complete operating system, which contains a lot of
non-GNU software.  GNU didn't develop its own replacements if other free
replacements were available.  This article does well to explain:

https://www.gnu.org/gnu/thegnuproject.html

   Developing a whole system is a very large project. To bring it into
   reach, I decided to adapt and use existing pieces of free software
   wherever that was possible. For example, I decided at the very
   beginning to use TeX as the principal text formatter; a few years
   later, I decided to use the X Window System rather than writing
   another window system for GNU.

   Because of these decisions, and others like them, the GNU system is not
   the same as the collection of all GNU software. The GNU system includes
   programs that are not GNU software, programs that were developed by
   other people and projects for their own purposes, but which we can use
   because they are free software.

-- 
Mike Gerwitz
Free Software Hacker+Activist | GNU Maintainer & Volunteer
GPG: D6E9 B930 028A 6C38 F43B  2388 FEF6 3574 5E6F 6D05
Old: 2217 5B02 E626 BC98 D7C0  C2E5 F22B B815 8EE3 0EAB
https://mikegerwitz.com

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^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 16:42 bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution" Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-23 17:35 ` David Craven
@ 2016-12-24 21:24 ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-24 23:51   ` David Craven
  2016-12-25 11:39 ` Ricardo Wurmus
  2016-12-25 16:45 ` bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux Luis Felipe López Acevedo
  3 siblings, 1 reply; 19+ messages in thread
From: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer @ 2016-12-24 21:24 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: 25254

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 319 bytes --]

taylanbayirli@gmail.com (Taylan Ulrich "Bayırlı/Kammer") writes:

> It would be better to be consistent with the home page and make clear
> that GuixSD is a GNU distribution, with Linux-libre being the default
> kernel for the foreseeable future.

Here's a patch to the guix-artwork repo to make the change.


[-- Warning: decoded text below may be mangled, UTF-8 assumed --]
[-- Attachment #2: 0001-website-about-Say-GNU-not-GNU-Linux.patch --]
[-- Type: text/x-diff, Size: 1205 bytes --]

From 9efbe9a4e7bba28aa593310ef537302dff909e0c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Taylan=20Ulrich=20Bay=C4=B1rl=C4=B1/Kammer?=
 <taylanbayirli@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2016 22:14:18 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] website: about: Say "GNU" not "GNU/Linux".

* website/www/about.scm (about-page): Say that GuixSD is a "GNU
  distribution" and not a "GNU/Linux distribution".  This is consistent
  with the home page.
---
 website/www/about.scm | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/website/www/about.scm b/website/www/about.scm
index 38f3a1e..4694c08 100644
--- a/website/www/about.scm
+++ b/website/www/about.scm
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ volunteers around the world under the umbrella of the "
 		      "GNU Project") ".  "
                       " This is the official web site for both projects. ")
 
-                (p "GuixSD is a GNU/Linux distribution committed to
-respecting and enhancing "
+                (p "GuixSD is a GNU distribution committed to respecting
+and enhancing "
                    (a (@ (href ,(gnu-url "philosophy/free-sw.html")))
                       "the freedom of its users")
                    ".  As such, it adheres to the "
-- 
2.10.2


^ permalink raw reply related	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-24 21:24 ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
@ 2016-12-24 23:51   ` David Craven
  2016-12-25  0:50     ` David Craven
                       ` (2 more replies)
  0 siblings, 3 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: David Craven @ 2016-12-24 23:51 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer; +Cc: 25254

Please change to the GNU distribution. Or alternatively if you are
going to say a GNU distribution provide a link to or an explanation of
what it means. Calling it a GNU distribution implies that there are
more than one, please provide an example of another GNU distribution.
A google search for GNU distribution doesn't turn up any results.
Please also remove it from the list of GNU/Linux distributions here:
https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.en.html

Thank you.

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-24 23:51   ` David Craven
@ 2016-12-25  0:50     ` David Craven
  2016-12-25 19:35     ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-25 19:55     ` Leo Famulari
  2 siblings, 0 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: David Craven @ 2016-12-25  0:50 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer; +Cc: 25254

> Please change to the GNU distribution. Or alternatively if you are
> going to say a GNU distribution provide a link to or an explanation of
> what it means.

To be clear what I mean with a description, it could be one of the following:

a) A GNU distribution is a distribution compiled with the gcc compiler.
b) A GNU distribution is a distribution that uses glibc.
c) A GNU distribution is a distribution that includes GNU software.
d) A GNU distribution is a distribution that uses guix the GNU package manager.
e) A GNU distribution is something else.

This has nothing to do with if I think it's a good idea for the guix
project to remove the word Linux from the about page if only for SEO
reasons or if I think that the Wikipedia people will be convinced by
removing the word Linux from the about page that this isn't a Linux
distribution.

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-23 16:42 bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution" Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-23 17:35 ` David Craven
  2016-12-24 21:24 ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
@ 2016-12-25 11:39 ` Ricardo Wurmus
  2016-12-25 16:45 ` bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux Luis Felipe López Acevedo
  3 siblings, 0 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: Ricardo Wurmus @ 2016-12-25 11:39 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer; +Cc: 25254

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 1782 bytes --]


Taylan UlrichBayırlı/Kammer <taylanbayirli@gmail.com> writes:

> It would be better to be consistent with the home page and make clear
> that GuixSD is a GNU distribution, with Linux-libre being the default
> kernel for the foreseeable future.
>
> Background: Wikipedia has a policy to call GNU/Linux distributions
> "Linux distribution" because that wrong term is more commonly used by
> the public.  To define GuixSD as a "GNU/Linux distribution" gives them
> in turn justification to define it as a "Linux distribution" instead.

FWIW, I like to call the system just “GNU” and GuixSD a “variant of the
GNU system”.  To me “Linux” is a technical detail that doesn’t need to
be mentioned explicitly each time when speaking to a general audience.
(This can be extended to “variant of the GNU system with Linux” when
needed, or just “GNU with Linux”, which is really close to “GNU+Linux”
or the more ambiguous “GNU/Linux”.)

The name affirms the vision towards which we’re working, and it
acknowledges the concerted effort in getting us so far.  The name is not
about acknowledging *software* as such.

I feel that convincing the current set of Wikipedia editors is a lost
cause.  It looks even worse in the German Wikipedia, where the “article”
on the GNU/Linux naming controversy insinuates that this is primarily
about stroking the egos of rms and the small group of GNU developers.
(I just spent some time submitting some changes to that page.)

I’d be okay with another way to describe what GuixSD is (especially once
we offer an additional image using the Hurd), but I’m also fine with
leaving it as it is.

-- 
Ricardo

GPG: BCA6 89B6 3655 3801 C3C6  2150 197A 5888 235F ACAC
http://elephly.net

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^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux
  2016-12-23 16:42 bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution" Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
                   ` (2 preceding siblings ...)
  2016-12-25 11:39 ` Ricardo Wurmus
@ 2016-12-25 16:45 ` Luis Felipe López Acevedo
  2016-12-25 18:26   ` David Craven
  2016-12-25 19:50   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  3 siblings, 2 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: Luis Felipe López Acevedo @ 2016-12-25 16:45 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: 25254

I agree with Tylan.

Instead of the current patch, however, I'd change the whole paragraph to 
something like this (a combination with the current first paragraph on 
Wikipedia):

GuixSD (Guix System Distribution) is a distribution of the [GNU 
operating system][link] centered on the GNU Guix package manager. It 
uses the [Linux-libre kernel][link] by default, with the [GNU 
Hurd][link] being supported as of version 0.12.0. As a GNU distribution, 
it is committed to respecting and enhancing the [freedom][link] of its 
users, and adheres to the [GNU Free System Distribution 
Guidelines][link].

To David, the Guix developers had the intention to call the system just 
GNU, and distribute it as GNU (Guix is a GNU project after all), but RMS 
didn't agree, so it was decided to use the GuixSD name and call it "A 
distribution of GNU", and not "THE distribution of GNU." [1]


[1] 
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-system-discuss/2014-11/msg00002.html

-- 
Luis Felipe López Acevedo
https://sirgazil.bitbucket.io/

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux
  2016-12-25 16:45 ` bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux Luis Felipe López Acevedo
@ 2016-12-25 18:26   ` David Craven
  2016-12-25 19:50   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  1 sibling, 0 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: David Craven @ 2016-12-25 18:26 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Luis Felipe López Acevedo, Ricardo Wurmus; +Cc: 25254

> To David, the Guix developers had the intention to call the system just GNU,
> and distribute it as GNU (Guix is a GNU project after all), but RMS didn't
> agree, so it was decided to use the GuixSD name and call it "A distribution
> of GNU", and not "THE distribution of GNU." [1]

First I appreciate all the work done by members of GNU project or any
other free software project.

I don't object to calling guixsd THE GNU operating system, because
that means that guixsd is an operating system called GNU and is a
project from the GNU organization. If we call it A GNU operating
system then it requires additional explanation. We can not expect
people to know what the criteria is for an operating system being A
GNU operating system. I've spent a considerable amount of the last 8
years learning about computers and I don't find it clear (as I
mentioned in an earlier email there are multiple possible
interpretations of what a GNU system is). If it is explained somewhere
then it is not a problem.

I also think that supporting Hurd also as a kernel does not make
guixsd not a Linux distribution, but makes guixsd both a Linux and a
Hurd distribution. I find it sensible to empathize the "better known"
one, but I don't have any attachment to a particular name or kernel.
What to call something is ultimately a marketing issue and not a
technical issue.

If I had to sell red bananas, I'd call the product a banana. Saying it
is not a banana it is a red banana, and that the main thing about the
banana is the fact that it's red so I'll market my product as simply
red isn't a sound decision in my opinion. If I ask someone do you want
to buy a banana they might say mmh yes I'm hungry, I'd like a banana
thanks. Oh cool it's a red banana! On the other hand if I go and say
do you want to buy some red? I'd expect to get a less positive
response. No thank you I don't need red.

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-24 23:51   ` David Craven
  2016-12-25  0:50     ` David Craven
@ 2016-12-25 19:35     ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-25 19:55     ` Leo Famulari
  2 siblings, 0 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer @ 2016-12-25 19:35 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: David Craven; +Cc: 25254

David Craven <david@craven.ch> writes:

> Please change to the GNU distribution. Or alternatively if you are
> going to say a GNU distribution provide a link to or an explanation of
> what it means.

I wanted to avoid a larger discussion, but OK, I haven't ever written a
comprehensive answer to such a question, so here goes.  I can link
people to it in the future...

An operating system is a software system that manages hardware and
software resources to offer a platform for end-user applications to
operate on.  For instance OpenBSD is an operating system, but GNU IceCat
is not.  (See Wikipedia for details.)

If an operating system consists of components developed by the GNU
project, then that's the GNU operating system.  This should be pretty
obvious. :-)

GNU operating system components include, among others:
- the GNU toolchain: GCC, Autotools (Autoconf, Automake, Libtool), GNU
  Make, binutils, Bison, GNU m4, GDB
- GRUB
- Hurd
- glibc
- the GNU userland: Bash, coreutils, findutils, diffutils, inetutils,
  GNU grep, GNU awk, GNU tar, etc.

The Hurd is not nearly as functional as one would like a production
level kernel to be, so the Linux kernel is frequently used in its place.
Whether the operating system is then still the GNU operating system just
with a part replacement, or whether it becomes a different one, is a
matter of semantics.

The Linux kernel is quite large, brings with itself a collection of
userland tools, and is relied on directly by a lot of end-user
applications instead of being encapsulated away entirely by the rest of
the operating system, so I think it's fair to call an operating system
GNU/Linux when the Linux kernel is used instead of the Hurd.

Complicating matters a bit, the Linux-libre project, while merely
maintaining a modified Linux kernel, is a GNU project as well, so it
could be debated whether the last paragraph does or doesn't apply when
the operating system uses the Linux-libre kernel.

Regardless of what one thinks about the last three paragraphs, the
intent of GuixSD as a project is to provide a distribution of the GNU
operating system.  This means that replacing tools like GCC or glibc is
unthinkable, whereas compatibility with the Hurd could be said to be a
relatively high-level concern of the project, and Linux-libre is used
for pragmatic purposes.  Contrast this with the majority of GNU/Linux
distributions whose main developers don't care about Hurd compatibility
at all.  (Off-shoot projects like ArchHurd exist, and their patches may
be accepted upstream, but they are just side projects.)

For these reasons, it makes sense to call GuixSD a distribution of the
GNU operating system, which for now offers by default an installation
using the Linux-libre kernel, as that is more pragmatic.

Disclaimer: I cannot speak for the Guix project leaders, but as far as I
understand their views are more or less like what I describe in the
previous two paragraphs, which is why the project homepage says that
GuixSD is a distribution of the GNU operating system.

> Calling it a GNU distribution implies that there are more than one,
> please provide an example of another GNU distribution.  A google
> search for GNU distribution doesn't turn up any results.

Perhaps ArchHurd or Debian GNU/Hurd may be considered GNU distributions.
Even if there are no other distributions of GNU though, that doesn't
mean GuixSD can't be one.

> Please also remove it from the list of GNU/Linux distributions here:
> https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.en.html

I was rather thinking of having that page corrected to say that it's a
list of GNU and GNU/Linux distributions. :-)

Taylan

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux
  2016-12-25 16:45 ` bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux Luis Felipe López Acevedo
  2016-12-25 18:26   ` David Craven
@ 2016-12-25 19:50   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
  2016-12-29 22:10     ` Ludovic Courtès
  1 sibling, 1 reply; 19+ messages in thread
From: Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer @ 2016-12-25 19:50 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Luis Felipe López Acevedo; +Cc: 25254

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 721 bytes --]

Luis Felipe López Acevedo <felipe.lopez@openmailbox.org> writes:

> Instead of the current patch, however, I'd change the whole paragraph
> to something like this (a combination with the current first paragraph
> on Wikipedia):
>
> GuixSD (Guix System Distribution) is a distribution of the [GNU
> operating system][link] centered on the GNU Guix package manager. It
> uses the [Linux-libre kernel][link] by default, with the [GNU
> Hurd][link] being supported as of version 0.12.0. As a GNU
> distribution, it is committed to respecting and enhancing the
> [freedom][link] of its users, and adheres to the [GNU Free System
> Distribution Guidelines][link].

I also like this idea.  Here's a new patch.


[-- Warning: decoded text below may be mangled, UTF-8 assumed --]
[-- Attachment #2: 0001-website-about-Refine-paragraph-about-GuixSD.patch --]
[-- Type: text/x-diff, Size: 1736 bytes --]

From b5672296e91671918035ca90370844c00f394340 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Taylan=20Ulrich=20Bay=C4=B1rl=C4=B1/Kammer?=
 <taylanbayirli@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2016 22:14:18 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] website: about: Refine paragraph about GuixSD.

* website/www/about.scm (about-page): Say that GuixSD is a distribution
  of GNU and not a GNU/Linux distribution.  Mention use of Linux-libre
  by default and support of Hurd.
---
 website/www/about.scm | 11 +++++++++--
 1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/website/www/about.scm b/website/www/about.scm
index 38f3a1e..32646d8 100644
--- a/website/www/about.scm
+++ b/website/www/about.scm
@@ -48,8 +48,15 @@ volunteers around the world under the umbrella of the "
 		      "GNU Project") ".  "
                       " This is the official web site for both projects. ")
 
-                (p "GuixSD is a GNU/Linux distribution committed to
-respecting and enhancing "
+                (p "GuixSD (Guix System Distribution) is a distribution of the "
+                   (a (@ (href ,(gnu-url ""))) "GNU operating system")
+                   " centered on the GNU Guix package manager.  It uses the"
+                   (a (@ (href ,(gnu-url "software/linux-libre")))
+                      "Linux-libre kernel")
+                   " by default, with the "
+                   (a (@ (href ,(gnu-url "software/hurd"))) "Hurd")
+                   " being supported as of version 0.12.0.  As a GNU
+distribution, it is committed to respecting and enhancing "
                    (a (@ (href ,(gnu-url "philosophy/free-sw.html")))
                       "the freedom of its users")
                    ".  As such, it adheres to the "
-- 
2.10.2


^ permalink raw reply related	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution"
  2016-12-24 23:51   ` David Craven
  2016-12-25  0:50     ` David Craven
  2016-12-25 19:35     ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
@ 2016-12-25 19:55     ` Leo Famulari
  2 siblings, 0 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: Leo Famulari @ 2016-12-25 19:55 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: David Craven; +Cc: 25254

On Sun, Dec 25, 2016 at 12:51:14AM +0100, David Craven wrote:
> Please change to the GNU distribution. Or alternatively if you are
> going to say a GNU distribution provide a link to or an explanation of
> what it means. Calling it a GNU distribution implies that there are
> more than one, please provide an example of another GNU distribution.
> A google search for GNU distribution doesn't turn up any results.
> Please also remove it from the list of GNU/Linux distributions here:
> https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.en.html

FYI, this suggestion was discussed previously:

http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-system-discuss/2014-12/msg00094.html

From that thread, specifically:

http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-system-discuss/2015-01/msg00015.html

And related discussion on guix-devel:

https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/guix-devel/2015-01/msg00047.html

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

* bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux
  2016-12-25 19:50   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
@ 2016-12-29 22:10     ` Ludovic Courtès
  0 siblings, 0 replies; 19+ messages in thread
From: Ludovic Courtès @ 2016-12-29 22:10 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Taylan Ulrich "Bayırlı/Kammer"
  Cc: Luis Felipe López Acevedo, 25254-done

Hello Guix!

taylanbayirli@gmail.com (Taylan Ulrich "Bayırlı/Kammer") skribis:

> From b5672296e91671918035ca90370844c00f394340 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
> From: =?UTF-8?q?Taylan=20Ulrich=20Bay=C4=B1rl=C4=B1/Kammer?=
>  <taylanbayirli@gmail.com>
> Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2016 22:14:18 +0100
> Subject: [PATCH] website: about: Refine paragraph about GuixSD.
>
> * website/www/about.scm (about-page): Say that GuixSD is a distribution
>   of GNU and not a GNU/Linux distribution.  Mention use of Linux-libre
>   by default and support of Hurd.
> ---
>  website/www/about.scm | 11 +++++++++--
>  1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/website/www/about.scm b/website/www/about.scm
> index 38f3a1e..32646d8 100644
> --- a/website/www/about.scm
> +++ b/website/www/about.scm
> @@ -48,8 +48,15 @@ volunteers around the world under the umbrella of the "
>  		      "GNU Project") ".  "
>                        " This is the official web site for both projects. ")
>  
> -                (p "GuixSD is a GNU/Linux distribution committed to
> -respecting and enhancing "
> +                (p "GuixSD (Guix System Distribution) is a distribution of the "
> +                   (a (@ (href ,(gnu-url ""))) "GNU operating system")
> +                   " centered on the GNU Guix package manager.  It uses the"
> +                   (a (@ (href ,(gnu-url "software/linux-libre")))
> +                      "Linux-libre kernel")
> +                   " by default, with the "
> +                   (a (@ (href ,(gnu-url "software/hurd"))) "Hurd")
> +                   " being supported as of version 0.12.0.  As a GNU
> +distribution, it is committed to respecting and enhancing "
>                     (a (@ (href ,(gnu-url "philosophy/free-sw.html")))
>                        "the freedom of its users")

I pushed it with a slight adjustment to reflect the fact that GuixSD
does not yet support the Hurd.  :-)

Thanks,
Ludo’.

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 19+ messages in thread

end of thread, other threads:[~2016-12-29 22:11 UTC | newest]

Thread overview: 19+ messages (download: mbox.gz / follow: Atom feed)
-- links below jump to the message on this page --
2016-12-23 16:42 bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux distribution" Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
2016-12-23 17:35 ` David Craven
2016-12-23 18:51   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
2016-12-23 19:36     ` David Craven
2016-12-23 20:55       ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
2016-12-23 21:28         ` David Craven
2016-12-23 21:32           ` Leo Famulari
2016-12-24 11:06           ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
2016-12-24 19:49   ` Mike Gerwitz
2016-12-24 21:24 ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
2016-12-24 23:51   ` David Craven
2016-12-25  0:50     ` David Craven
2016-12-25 19:35     ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
2016-12-25 19:55     ` Leo Famulari
2016-12-25 11:39 ` Ricardo Wurmus
2016-12-25 16:45 ` bug#25254: [minor] 'About' page says GuixSD is a "GNU/Linux Luis Felipe López Acevedo
2016-12-25 18:26   ` David Craven
2016-12-25 19:50   ` Taylan Ulrich Bayırlı/Kammer
2016-12-29 22:10     ` Ludovic Courtès

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