Re: OT: OS / distro / kernel
* Mike Schiraldi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [2002-03-28 10:42]: > > > Except that Linux is only the kernel. Linux + GNU + some other > > > files and configuration is the OS. That, plus some applications > > > is the distribution. > > > > You're wrong. > > How is he wrong? I was wondering that too; he seems pretty right on, to me. (darren) -- To believe is very dull. To doubt is intensely engrossing. To be on alert is to live, to be lulled into security is to die. -- Oscar Wilde
Re: OT: OS / distro / kernel
Mike Schiraldi wrote: > > > Except that Linux is only the kernel. Linux + GNU + some other files and > > > configuration is the OS. That, plus some applications is the distribution. > > > > You're wrong. > > How is he wrong? In the computer science sense, an operating system is the piece of software which interfaces with the hardware. In many cases this is just the kernel. Generically people refer to as OS as the collection of all software plus the kernel. But technically, the Linux kernel is an operating system in the true sense of the word (all the user apps aren't really necessary to run the computer, they're just a convenience ;-).
Re: OT: OS / distro / kernel
On Thu, Mar 28, 2002 at 07:47:29AM -0800, Michael Elkins wrote: > Mike Schiraldi wrote: > > > > Except that Linux is only the kernel. Linux + GNU + some other files and > > > > configuration is the OS. That, plus some applications is the distribution. > > > > > > You're wrong. > > > > How is he wrong? > > In the computer science sense, an operating system is the piece of > software which interfaces with the hardware. In many cases this is just > the kernel. Generically people refer to as OS as the collection of all > software plus the kernel. But technically, the Linux kernel is an > operating system in the true sense of the word (all the user apps aren't > really necessary to run the computer, they're just a convenience ;-). Like many other definitions of recent concepts, this is not hard and fast, and depends on where you find your definition. I will gladly cede that in oldskool UNIX parlance, the kernel is the operating system, and even such low-level programs as init(8) are technically user-space apps. Generally, though, it's been my experience that the usage of 'operating system' now refers also to user-space system-controlling processes. Probably, this could be considered a bastardization stemming from DOS's monolithic stance on OS tasks. The question of which is right is probably flame material. We both have our reasons to say we're right. Based on something like Bach's "Design of the UNIX Operating System," the kernel is technically the OS. Based on the definition of GNU, many user-space applications are also the OS. And that's all I have to say about that. -- rjbs msg26361/pgp0.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: OT: OS / distro / kernel
On Thu, Mar 28, 2002 at 11:45:42AM -0500 I heard the voice of Ricardo SIGNES, and lo! it spake thus: > > The question of which is right is probably flame material. We both have our > reasons to say we're right. Based on something like Bach's "Design of the UNIX > Operating System," the kernel is technically the OS. Based on the definition > of GNU, many user-space applications are also the OS. And based on the marketting of Sun, the network IS the OS. *inno* O;-> -- Matthew Fuller (MF4839) |[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unix Systems Administrator |[EMAIL PROTECTED] Specializing in FreeBSD |http://www.over-yonder.net/ "The only reason I'm burning my candle at both ends, is because I haven't figured out how to light the middle yet"
Re: OT: OS / distro / kernel
* Ricardo SIGNES <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [28/03/02, 11:45:42]: [...] > The question of which is right is probably flame material. We both have our > reasons to say we're right. Based on something like Bach's "Design of the UNIX > Operating System," the kernel is technically the OS. Based on the definition > of GNU, many user-space applications are also the OS. You mean like emacs? That nice OS with the bad editor? Sorry, couldn't help it. Now I've propably started an editor war, too :) Please flame to /dev/null and keep it off the list. Cheers, Kai -- Kai Blin, Sysop hp: http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/uni/thm/molgen/ Univ. of Tuebingen Inst. of Human Genetics fon +49-7071-2974890 Wilhelmstrasse 27 Dept. of Molecular Genetics fax +49-7071-295233 D-72074 Tuebingen Do molecular biologists wear designer genes?
Re: OT: OS / distro / kernel
--cvVnyQ+4j833TQvp Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Alas! Kai Blin spake thus: > You mean like emacs? That nice OS with the bad editor? Hey, did you know that you can actually run Vim from inside Emacs? Now Emacs finally has a decent editor ;) --=20 Rob 'Feztaa' Park [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they become soggy and hard to light. Do not throw cigarette butts in the urinal, for they are subtle and quick to anger. --cvVnyQ+4j833TQvp Content-Type: application/pgp-signature Content-Disposition: inline -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQE8pMTzPTh2iSBKeccRAv5bAJ9Cra2f5kM9lQ19ll+i/1WuyXZMiwCfd3JJ N7jH/CP5okf84Lyd11sVINM= =nsvu -END PGP SIGNATURE- --cvVnyQ+4j833TQvp--
