Re: GNU/Linux Naming

[Keith Thompson]

"Alfred M. Szmidt" <ams@gnu.org> writes:
>    >    Alfred, quoted above, said that "The operating system is
>    >    called GNU".  That seemed to imply that the kernel is not part
>    >    of the operating system (since the Linux kernel is not part of
>    >    GNU).  I was seeking clarification on that point.
>    >
>    > But the Hurd is part of the GNU operating system, which is the
>    > GNU kernel.  One should also recall that not all operating
>    > systems have a named kernel, for example the BSD's.
>
>    What you wrote was:
>
>    | The reason is that Linux is not a operating system, it is the
>    | kernel of one.  The operating system is called GNU.
>
>    I thought the operating system being discussed was the one referred
>    to by many people here as "GNU/Linux".  Are you saying that that
>    specific operating system, which includes the Linux kernel, should
>    be called just "GNU"?  Or were you instead referring to an OS that
>    uses the Hurd kernel?
>
> One can call GNU/Linux for GNU if one wants to, much like one calls
> OpenBSD for simply BSD.  Often when I am a bit lazy and someone asks
> me what operating system I use I just say GNU, or a variant of GNU.

So if you want to be a bit lazy, it's acceptable to refer to GNU/Linux
as "GNU", but not acceptable to refer to GNU/Linux as "Linux?"

-- 
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org  <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
Looking for software development work in the San Diego area.
"We must do something.  This is something.  Therefore, we must do this."
    -- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"