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what counts as a distro
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2023
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Linux
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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.
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ChromeOS is not a GNU operating system, nor are many distributions of android. There are a lot of moving parts to an complete operating system. Even if Google uses a copylefted linux kernel and package manager Portage (GPLv2), they are still allowed to implement their own nonfree components to the OS such as a Google Chrome based desktop (Unlike with the GPLv3 which would force the entire OS to be copylefted).
Perhaps if ChromeOS were a free operating system (or at least something on par with Debian or Fedora's committment to libre software) this argument would be trivial and we would all be happy calling it Linux, but as it stands there is still a clear distinction between ChromeOS and GNU/Linux and it would be misleading not to point them out. Corporations deserve libre software (they are important contributors), but us users deserve it too.
... KDE Neon is an extension on an Ubuntu base with the latest KDE applications. Whether you call it a linux distribution or not is based on your preferences (and the maintainers). I would call it a GNU/Linux distribution since it provides an installer and live OS image that is based around libre software.