this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2024
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Can someone explain to me why people get upset about it being referred to as gnu+Linux or gnu/Linux? I'm not the most techy person, so maybe I'm missing something obvious, but like, objectively, isn't it just as much gnu code as Linux?
Again, not super techy, so please explain it to me like I'm the average Facebook aunt.
The definition of "operating systems" is not really clear. Some say the operating system is what is called the "kernel". In the case of Linux operating systems, that kernel is called "Linux". Most people, however, say that the operating system is the whole thing you install. That is, the kernel + a bunch of other apps.
For example, in windows: notepad, internet explorer (now edge), paint, and all those apps are part of the operating system, that's what people mean when they say "windows". It's the whole package. Other less obvious parts are drivers for example.
In the case of Linux, most distributions ship with a bunch of GNU programs.
"Akschually people" argue that the GNU parts are as important (if not more) as Linux itself for the operating system, so they feel like all the hard work of the GNU developers is shadowed by the people that say "Linux".
I mostly understand all that so far. My main question is why people get upset at folks who refer to it as gnu/Linux? I've seen a couple arguments about it on reddit, but I'm not sure how common it is for people to be actually upset, or if it's more meme arguing. And I also I have no idea if I should say I use Linux or gnu/Linux since I use Fedora. Lol.
I'm one that finds the GNU/Linux naming annoying. I think calling it that is mostly silly, and am mostly annoyed at people who militantly argue it's the only way to describe a Linux OS (which aren't as common as they used to be).
To me, it's just overly verbose and pointless. For the most part, the GNU part has been implied for pretty much any mainstream form of Linux for decades. And even if it wasn't, who cares? Like, you wouldn't say that you run KDE/X11/wpasupplicant/neovim/docker/pacman/paru/systemd/GNU/Linux... Just saying KDE on Arch Linux is simpler and far more informative.