Linux

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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 Better Than Windows 11 (www.youtube.com)

submitted 3 days ago by _carmin@lemm.ee to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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[–] thingsiplay@beehaw.org 21 points 3 days ago (7 children)

I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called “Linux,” and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use.

Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called “Linux” distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.

-- Richard Stallman

[–] data1701d@startrek.website 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I think it wasn't actually Stallman - it's a common misattribution.

[–] thingsiplay@beehaw.org 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It was Stallman. There was just a very little detail that was not exactly as he said, but otherwise entire quote is from him: https://www.gnu.org/gnu/incorrect-quotation.en.html

[–] cmrss2@aussie.zone 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Have you actually read the article? The first sentence:

A quotation circulates on the Internet, attributed to me, but it wasn't written by me.

[–] thingsiplay@beehaw.org 5 points 2 days ago

Read the rest of it.

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