From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: taylanbayirli@gmail.com (Taylan Ulrich =?utf-8?Q?Bay=C4=B1rl=C4=B1?= =?utf-8?Q?=2FKammer?=) Subject: Re: New year, new name! Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 15:58:14 +0100 Message-ID: <87wq50t0qh.fsf@taylan.uni.cx> References: <87egra60mo.fsf@gnu.org> <20150105104320.GA2569@jocasta.intra> <54AAA270.3000006@openmailbox.org> <20150106122821.4cc9d9a0@freedom-laptop> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Return-path: Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:41670) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1Y8VaP-0007sS-Qd for guix-devel@gnu.org; Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:58:22 -0500 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1Y8VaO-0003YW-L0 for guix-devel@gnu.org; Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:58:21 -0500 In-Reply-To: <20150106122821.4cc9d9a0@freedom-laptop> ("Bruno =?utf-8?Q?F?= =?utf-8?Q?=C3=A9lix?= Rezende Ribeiro"'s message of "Tue, 6 Jan 2015 12:28:21 -0200") List-Id: "Development of GNU Guix and the GNU System distribution." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: guix-devel-bounces+gcggd-guix-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sender: guix-devel-bounces+gcggd-guix-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: Bruno =?utf-8?Q?F=C3=A9lix?= Rezende Ribeiro Cc: guix-devel@gnu.org, Felipe =?utf-8?Q?L=C3=B3pez?= Bruno F=C3=A9lix Rezende Ribeiro writes: > Em Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:40:48 -0500 > Felipe L=C3=B3pez escreveu: > >> I still think that calling the Guix distro "GNU" would have been >> better, and I don't see how calling it "Guixotic - the reference >> distribution of GNU" is any different from calling it "GNU", since >> saying "the reference distro" implies the same issues RMS and others >> saw in calling the distro "GNU". > > I agree. In fact calling it "GNU's reference distribution" could even > worsen the problems seen by RMS, because of the explicit goal > attributed to the distribution of being used as a canonical template. > To me the purpose of the GNU project is more ethical and symbolic than > technical: to provide the mythical --- entirely free --- GNU system > and not necessarily to make a distribution for technical reference. > IMHO, the GNU project is missing the point. > > Needless to say, I'll continue to call it simply "GNU". I invite > everyone else to do the same. Given that the GNU+Linux operating > system has gotten the wrong name "Linux" by habit and popularity, > maybe we could make "Guixotic" (or whatever) get the right name "GNU" > by a similar practice. When "GNU" refers exactly to that partially intangible system you describe, which is found not only in concrete distributions but also in Apple OS X and Android, then we need a separate name to refer to this concrete distribution. There seems to be agreement on that this name will be de-emphasized --used as kind of a technical code name only-- in contrast to all the "brand" names such as Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, etc.. So we will say that we use GNU, and that it's Guixotic will be a technical detail. There's still the danger that, since most GNU/Linux discussion happens in technically savvy circles, people will most often use this technical code name, so it will look like a brand name to onlookers of such discussions. I think it's our responsibility to be careful about this danger and clarify as often as needed, but I don't see us getting around giving *some* concrete name, that isn't "GNU", to the distribution. Hope this perspective helps. :-) Taylan