Re: [libreplanet-discuss] What do you think about calling free systems as "GNU" systems (even if there is no GNU or Linux-libre)?

[Mike Gerwitz]

On Mon, May 02, 2016 at 15:53:52 +0200, Alexander Berntsen wrote:
> GNU distributions are distributions that use GNU software.

They are in part GNU software, but phrasing it like that makes it seem
like the GNU part of GNU/Linux is only the GNU software.  GNU is an
entire operating system, not just a set of GNU tools, which is evident
from its history:

  https://gnu.org/gnu/thegnuproject.html

> Linux is the operating system. But there's a big group of people who
> think that "Linux by itself doesn't do anything, so it isn't an
> operating system".

I find this to be a puzzling argument.  Linux is a very specific
project: a kernel.  The problem is encouraged by the project itself,
though:

  https://github.com/torvalds/linux

  "Linux is a clone of the operating system Unix, written from scratch
  by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers
  across the Net."

In any case: if you took GNU+Linux, and subtracted GNU (and everything
that includes---see the history page above), you're not going to be left
with what most people would consider a useful (or usable) system.


> Even GNU+Linux isn't good enough, since Gentoo can run with other
> kernels than Linux (and with enough hacking, probably without GNU too).

If Gentoo is distributed with Linux, then it's Gentoo GNU/Linux.  If
it's not, then it's not.  For example, there's a Debian GNU/Hurd, and
Debian GNU/kFreeBSD.

> So to sum up: Say Gentoo. Say Replicant. Say Android. They are all
> free distributions, and referring to them as GNU is doing them and GNU
> both a disservice.

Saying GNU isn't only to give credit to the GNU Project---it also starts
a discussion about free software, because people will wonder what GNU
is and research it.  The kernel Linux does not hold those same values,
and you will not expect a discussion of freedom---you would expect a
discussion about "open source".

Therefore, saying "Gentoo" or "Ubuntu", while true, doesn't help our
cause, and is a way to avoid what may would consider to be an awkward
discussion entirely.

See https://mikegerwitz.com/2016/04/GNU-kWindows for rationale.

-- 
Mike Gerwitz
Free Software Hacker | GNU Maintainer & Volunteer
https://mikegerwitz.com
FSF Member #5804 | GPG Key ID: 0x8EE30EAB

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