this post was submitted on 13 Oct 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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Why Linux is portrayed as a Penguin?

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[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 82 points 1 year ago

The penguin's name is "Tux" and he's the official Linux mascot.

I think Linus Torvalds picked it a long time ago, he said he wanted something that was non-threatening, so hence the penguin lol.

The debate about Linux vs GNU/Linux imo, is one of the stupidest and pedantic debates I've ever heard. Maybe it mattered 30+ years ago when things were much less developed and only hardcore nerds and programmers used it, but now days it's only important to grognards and neckbeards.

Hot take, but it's like those pretentious music enthusiasts that will argue about what precise genre an artist fits into. "I would say they are post-progressive indie skitzo-pop. No way! They are clearly more neo-grunge sca-punk with post-rock elements" who cares?? Have your ultra-precise categories in your personal music collection all you want, but acting like it's based on some hardcore objective truths of the universe is stupid.

Nobody is confused when I say I run Linux as my OS. Actually, people do get confused but it's not because of GNU/Linux, it's because they haven't ever heard of Linux and thought that Windows and MacOS were the only 2 OSes for computers.

If somebody genuinely pulled an "um, actually" on me for saying Linux vs GNU/Linux, I would scream laugh loudly and then change the subject.

[–] imgel@lemmy.ml 17 points 1 year ago

Both. Richard and Linux paved the way for what all FOSS and the world currently is

[–] oo1@kbin.social 14 points 1 year ago
[–] TheScaryDoor@startrek.website 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] backhdlp@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 year ago

Yeah, he's just based like that

[–] abclop99 9 points 1 year ago

Systemd/Linux

[–] Floey@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

Just go with whatever software distribution you use.

[–] TheImpressiveX@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

GNU/Linux is the more technically accurate term, but in practice, most people say "Linux" so that others know what they're talking about.

And the reason for Tux is because Linus Torvalds was once bitten by a penguin.

[–] nrabulinski 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It’s not more accurate with distros like gokrazy, alpine, or chimera which aren’t necessarily based on GNU software (the last of which specifically advertises itself as „non-gnu Linux”)

[–] Adanisi@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Most people don't use them. And nobody is calling them GNU/

[–] raubarno@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago

Gun/Linux 🔫

[–] CIAvash 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] radix@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

🤓🤓🤓

[–] HubertManne@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

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

[–] raubarno@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

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".

[–] nrabulinski 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There’s quite a few Linux distributions or whatever you want to call it that aren’t associated with GNU or are not based on GNU software

[–] raubarno@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] nrabulinski 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So calling those which are just as open but not associated with GNU GNU/Linux is disingenuous, despite the influence of the GNU organization

[–] Adanisi@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Does anyone actually do that though?

[–] nrabulinski 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The person I replied to specifically said

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".

So they use GNU/Linux to refer to any open system

[–] Adanisi@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 year ago

I must gave missed that. Yeah, calling, for example, Alpine GNU, is wrong.

[–] drwho 5 points 1 year ago
[–] QuazarOmega@lemy.lol 3 points 1 year ago

Both, at alternate times to mess with the enemy

[–] feanpoli@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] KDE@monyet.cc 2 points 1 year ago

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!

[–] Getallen@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago

Gee And You