** Zoki <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [2005-12-19 10:20]: > Le 19 déc. 2005, à 10:53, Matt Emson a écrit : > >>Why not put MacOS on the new hard disk you mentioned, and GNU > >>on the old one, and see how it compares to MacOS-X even under > >>the handicap of running from a slower disk. > > > >Hate to get technical, but you are wrong to refer to LINUX as just > >GNU. When > >Linus Torvalds originally created LINUX, it was simply that - LINUX. > >The GNU > >part is almost entirely one man's folly. > > > >Richard Stallman may want people to use his forced GNU when refering to > >LINUX, but at a push it is GNU/LINUX. Almost the entire world actually > >refers to it as LINUX. RMS argued that LINUX is a kernel on top of > >which GNU > >tools run - this is why he attempted to force the name as GNU/LINUX. > >The GNU > >part only exists in his and other GNU zealots minds though. Plenty of > >other > >OS uses GNU software - even MacOS X does - as GCC is entirely GNU. Some > >hobby OS like Syllable use almost as much GNU software as LINUX does, > >but I > >don't see RMS forcing them to call it NGU/Syllable. In reality, he was > >using > >LINUX as a springboard for publicity, and perpetuating that is hurting > >no > >one, but kind of annoying if you know the history behind it. > > > >Technically, the GNU OS you refer to should be GNU/HURD as that is > >actually > >a completely GNU Operating System. > > > *** Matt, > > With all due respect but you are rewriting history here. You did not > only get your facts wrong you also lacking respect to a person - even > if you do not like his methods - that has done a lot for the free > sofwatere movement. > > Please spend some more time on Internet to inform yourself, and avoid > the Fox News approach. You are not doing yourself a favor. ** end quote [Zoki]
In what way has history been rewritten here? You've quoted that facts have been represented incorrectly, but provide none of your own or references to any. The email matches my views on the subject - although some of the wording is perhaps stronger that I would personally use. Personally I tend to prefer the term Linux because it is shorter and clearer, and the GNU tools are merely part of a whole set of tools, utilities and other programs on a Linux distribution. If you look at the GNU site itself it pretty much shoots itself in the foot on the page: http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html In the second paragraph it states "The kernel is an essential part of an operating system" and then "Linux is normally used in a combination with the GNU operating system". Towards the end of the page they state "Developing this kernel has been a lot harder than we expected" and "Fortunately, we didn't have to wait for the Hurd, because Linux was available". So the tough part of the OS is the kernel, a job that the GNU project has struggled with for many years (they started work in 1984, I can't remember when they actually started work on Hurd). The GNU tools are clearly the easier part, and even though the kernel is "an essential part of an operating system" they then refer to the "GNU operating system" that Linux is normally used with! Now I support many of the ideas behind the FSF, and many of the views of RMS (although I'll have to stick to many of the computer related ones here, some of his others I have serious reservations about - but would take things way OT for this list), but they clearly would prefer people to be using Hurd, but unfortunately it isn't ready, even now, for main stream usage. To refer to a distribution that is always based on the Linux kernel, but only 'normally used in a combination with the GNU' [tools], and then those amongst others, as GNU/Linux seems to me to elevate some parts of the tool set above others (all be it some of the key ones). Anyway, not really wanting to spark of a long discussion here, especially as I'm only an occasional poster - and more of a Linux user than Mac user! -- Paul Tansom | Aptanet Ltd. | http://www.aptanet.com -- Mac UK is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... 123Inkjets.com <http://lowendmac.com/ad/123inkjets.html> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Mac UK list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/mac-uk.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-uk%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com
