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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Why Linux is portrayed as a Penguin?
It depends on what matter to you. I use a GNU/Linux distribution and I call it that such because I think the project deserves to be better known. I say FLOSS rather than FOSS because I value freedom.
As the others made a good point, Linux is the kernel (program that connects hardware altogether and manages processes). GNU is an organisation beginning in 1983 that made some vital userland programs (Bash, GCC, readline, GNOME, GTK, GIMP, etc.) as a replacement of the proprietary ones found in UNIX and Windows. Linux is created by a Finnish student Linus Torvalds and is not a part of the GNU project but it's been licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the first free software license.
Linux is used by a lot of companies, and some of the products that have Linux inside refuse to accept the paradigm of software freedom. Examples of this are: Chrome OS, Windows Subsystem for Linux, Google Android and some (but not all) appliances (like routers) that are locked-in and contain proprietary blobs.
Therefore, in technical discussions, I use the word "Linux" to refer to the OS, as "this software is compatible with Linux". But, when I want to stress out software freedom, given a large influence of the GNU project, I say "GNU/Linux".
For me its GNU/linux formally. Linux would not mean anything to me without the gpl. I would likely be using freeBSD or sticking with windows/mac. Heck I would be using mac now if they had not abandoned their great warrantly support of pre 2010
Alpine Linux is a distro without GNU, same with Android (typically Busybox and no glibc) - so just seems frivolous to add it when talking about the kernel just because some tiny amount of users have it in their systems. If it's license only, would it be better to just call it GPL/Linux?
Maybe. Personaly I don't sue the non gnu linux except for android which I think of as android and like about as much as I like windows. So not a whole lot. Granted I appreciate what they both do but they constantly annoying me in implementations. I digress though. So for me the GNU still works. IM actually sorta curious about alpine now. Its using whole cloth implementions of functionaility like the GNU utils? I mean gnu had to do that to make gpl versions of unix commands but why did alpine bother?
Out of curiosity, what specifically do you dislike about Android? If it is stock androids google crap, I get that, but there are some solid ROMs out there.
I really don't like smart phones in general. So I also don't like ios. There is a very small use case where I like the formfactor and that is like using the old tricorder app or the stellarium app but basically I have not taken to it the way the rest of society has.
That’s fair. I like the convenience of having a computer in my pocket for some things, but trying to do actual meaningful tasks on one is awful.
The goes very in-depth on every question you might have on why to call it GNU/Linux. Whether that makes you more or less likely to actually call it that is up to you!
They’re both so good, I can’t choose.
i am sry to say but half my friends dont know what linux is except android runs on it they are surprised that linux can run on computers
so ... I just say linux
Also love this picture!
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