At Mon, 2 Feb 2004 16:45:56 -0800 ,
Andrew McNabb wrote:
> On Mon, Feb 02, 2004 at 01:50:30PM -0800, Corey Edwards wrote:
> > What bugs me about the whole issue is that a typical Linux distribution
> > contains more than just a Linux kernel and GNU.
>
> ...On the other hand, as others have pointed out, GNU components are
> fundamental components of your system. If you were to find a way to
> delete all GNU programs off of your computer, you wouldn't even be
> able to boot it. It would be completely useless.
OK, it apears that nobody read the web-page I recommended[1]. It
explains why this debate is raging. I'll try and summarize/paraphrase
what the site says.
It all comes down to making sure we are all speaking the same language
(so many of these arguments come down to that). The question we are
debating the answer to, I believe, is "What OS are you running?" The
answer depends on what OS (operating system) means. Let me explain:
OS: the memory resident software which controls access to system
resources such as:
* CPU
* RAM
* monitor, keyboard, mouse
* disk drives, CD-ROM drives
* tape drives, printers and other peripherals and ports
* network access.
By that definition, the answer to the question is Linux.
OS: that big bunch of software which comes from the OS vendor on
CD-ROMs (nowadays) or floppy disks, tape cartridges or reel-to-reel
tapes (in the old days).
By that definition, the answer is probably the name of your
distribution, for example it could be Redhat Enterprise Linux.
So which definition is RMS using? Well, the above website's
interpretation is that he's using the second definition of OS given
above, but a 1980's version of it:
RMS's ``operating system'' = kernel + basic tools = Unix mag tape.
By that definition, you could then call your OS something like
GNU/Linux.
Take that as you will. I thought it made sense.
Bryan
1. http://www.topology.org/linux/lingl.html
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