88
Stupid question, but what makes Linux, linux?
(lemmy.world)
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
88 points (90.7% liked)
Linux
48080 readers
704 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
That's a Stallman rant/copypasta. Calling it GNU/Linux isn't very common outside of his fans.
It's also wrong, There are Linux distributions that don't use the GNU userland such as Alpine which uses musl IIRC.
I chose to use the copypasta because it does an excellent job at answering the question asked, 'What is Linux?'.
The answer being that it is but one part of a complete OS, rather than the OS itself, and that if he chooses, he may indeed be able to incorporate the kernel into his own OS project.
Nobody said you have to use GNU, just that it's by far the most common form in which a Linux-based operating system takes.