Linux naming controversy: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Eric M Gearhart
(Wording and whatnot. Hehe I guess the muse is with me tonight)
m (Text replacement - "GNU/Linux" to "Linux")
(28 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
In 1983, [[The Free Software Foundation]], founded by [[Richard Stallman|Dr. Richard Stallman]], made an attempt to create a [[free software movement|free]] [[Unix]]-like operating system, which they called the [[GNU system]] as a [[recursive acronym]] for '''''G'''NU's '''N'''ot '''U'''nix''.<ref>{{cite web
{{subpages}}
 
[[Image:Gnu-and-penguin-color-1024x946.png|thumb|right|The GNU and Linux mascots flying together, displaying the ironic link between the two adversaries]]
The '''Linux naming controversy''' is a dispute between the [[Free Software Foundation]] (FSF) and various [[Linux]]-supporting groups over the naming of [[operating systems]] that are based on the [[Linux kernel]] and use [[GNU]] utilities.  The FSF maintains that because the systems depend upon many GNU programs to fill the roles of non-free [[UNIX]] programs, the name "Linux" should be used.  On the other hand, Linux advocates and many distributors prefer to call the OS "Linux" after the kernel for simplicity.
 
== History ==
The origin of this argument began in 1984, when [[The Free Software Foundation]], founded by [[Richard Stallman|Dr. Richard Stallman]], set out on an attempt to create a [[free software movement|free]] [[Unix-like]] [[operating system]] called the [[GNU system]], which is a [[recursive acronym]] for '''''G'''NU's '''N'''ot '''U'''nix''.<ref>{{cite web
| name=GNU
| name=GNU
| url=http://gnu.org
| url=http://gnu.org
| title=About the GNU Project
| title=About the GNU Project
| date=Retreived 06 April 2007
| date=Retrieved 06 April 2007
}}</ref> They began with the necessary tools for the system, such as a [[GNU C compiler|compiler]], a [[debugger]], and a [[Emacs|text editor]]. Their plan was to then create a kernel to place beneath the tools that they had created. Unfortunately, due to the very complex structure of their system, it took them an extremely long time to get it working. Even to this day, development of the [[GNU Hurd|Hurd]], as the GNU kernel is known, continues without a stable first release.
}}</ref> They began with the basic necessary tools for the system, such as a [[compiler]] ([[GNU Compiler Collection|gcc]]), a [[C programming language| C library]] (glibc), a [[debugger]] (gdb), and a [[text editor]] (emacs). Their plan was to create all the tools necessary for an operating system, culminating with a kernel (the [[Hurd]]) to place beneath the tools that they had created.


Their plan was to then create a kernel to place beneath the tools that they had created.  
The team of developers of this kernel chose to base their architecture on a [[Mach microkernel]] design, which they thought would be superior to monolithic kernels, but turned out to be too complex to create quickly. In hindsight, this ambition would cause GNU to lose their monopoly on the burgeoning free Unix scene. Due to the complex structure of this new type of kernel, it took developers an extremely long time to get a workable release, compared to [[Monolithic kernel|monolithic kernels]] that "just worked." As of April 2007, development of the Hurd kernel continues without a stable first release.


The [[HURD]] team chose to base their architecture on a [[Mach microkernel]] design, which, from an academic standpoint seemed to be the next evolutionary step in [[kernel]] architecture.
In 1991, [[Linus Torvalds]] first introduced his kernel, which came to be called [[Linux]]. Before Linux, there was no choice but to use non-free kernels, most notably [[Minix]], atop the free GNU utilities and tools. While the GNU kernel began to look more like [[vaporware]] every day, the community received Linux with open arms and many began to contribute.


However, due to the very complex structure of this new type of kernel, it took them an extremely long time compared to [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic kernels]] to get a workable release. To this day, development of the [[HURD]] (the GNU kernel) continues without a stable first release.
From gnu.org:


It was during this time that Torvalds first introduced his kernel, which came to be called [[Linux]]. Before Linux, [[hacker|hackers]] had no choice but to use non-free kernels, most notably [[Minix]]. While the GNU kernel began to look more like [[vaporware]] every day, the community received Linux with open arms and many began to contribute.
<blockquote>"Variants of the GNU operating system, which use the kernel called Linux, are now widely used; though these systems are often referred to as 'Linux', they are more accurately called Linux systems."</blockquote>


From gnu.org: "Variants of the GNU operating system, which use the kernel called Linux, are now widely used; though these systems are often referred to as “Linux”, they are more accurately called GNU/Linux systems."
The GNU Project members decided to call 'Linux' Linux, in order to attribute credit to those who worked hard at creating the tools that the Linux kernel runs. [[Linus Torvalds]], however, has made no effort to hide his thoughts towards this naming convention, saying that "calling Linux in general just 'Linux' I think is ridiculous."<ref name="OSWeekly">{{cite web
 
| title=The "Linux" and "Linux" Controversy
The GNU Project members decided to call 'Linux' GNU/Linux, in order to attribute credit to those who worked hard at creating the tools that the Linux kernel runs. [[Linus Torvalds]], however, has made no effort to hide his thoughts towards this naming convention, saying that "calling Linux in general just 'GNU/Linux' I think is ridiculous."<ref name="OSWeekly">{{cite web
| title=The "GNU/Linux" and "Linux" Controversy
| url=http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=&task=view&id=2242
| url=http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=&task=view&id=2242
| date=Retreived 06 April 2007
| date=Retrieved April 6th, 2007
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
Today, systems based on the Linux kernel are commonly referred to as ''Linux'', with the notable exception of the [[Debian]] ''Linux'' distribution.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Debian Linux distribution
| url=http://www.debian.org/
| date=Retrieved April 12th, 2007
}}</ref> The topic continues to be a controversial subject to this day.


==References==
==References==
Line 27: Line 37:
==Related topics==
==Related topics==
*[[Linux]]
*[[Linux]]
*[[GNU]]
*[[Hurd]]
*[[Free Software Foundation|The Free Software Foundation (FSF)]]
*[[Linus Torvalds]]
*[[Linus Torvalds]]
*[[Richard Stallman]]
*[[Richard Stallman]]
[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:Computers Workgroup]]

Revision as of 09:02, 2 March 2024

This article is developing and not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.
The GNU and Linux mascots flying together, displaying the ironic link between the two adversaries

The Linux naming controversy is a dispute between the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and various Linux-supporting groups over the naming of operating systems that are based on the Linux kernel and use GNU utilities. The FSF maintains that because the systems depend upon many GNU programs to fill the roles of non-free UNIX programs, the name "Linux" should be used. On the other hand, Linux advocates and many distributors prefer to call the OS "Linux" after the kernel for simplicity.

History

The origin of this argument began in 1984, when The Free Software Foundation, founded by Dr. Richard Stallman, set out on an attempt to create a free Unix-like operating system called the GNU system, which is a recursive acronym for GNU's Not Unix.[1] They began with the basic necessary tools for the system, such as a compiler (gcc), a C library (glibc), a debugger (gdb), and a text editor (emacs). Their plan was to create all the tools necessary for an operating system, culminating with a kernel (the Hurd) to place beneath the tools that they had created.

The team of developers of this kernel chose to base their architecture on a Mach microkernel design, which they thought would be superior to monolithic kernels, but turned out to be too complex to create quickly. In hindsight, this ambition would cause GNU to lose their monopoly on the burgeoning free Unix scene. Due to the complex structure of this new type of kernel, it took developers an extremely long time to get a workable release, compared to monolithic kernels that "just worked." As of April 2007, development of the Hurd kernel continues without a stable first release.

In 1991, Linus Torvalds first introduced his kernel, which came to be called Linux. Before Linux, there was no choice but to use non-free kernels, most notably Minix, atop the free GNU utilities and tools. While the GNU kernel began to look more like vaporware every day, the community received Linux with open arms and many began to contribute.

From gnu.org:

"Variants of the GNU operating system, which use the kernel called Linux, are now widely used; though these systems are often referred to as 'Linux', they are more accurately called Linux systems."

The GNU Project members decided to call 'Linux' Linux, in order to attribute credit to those who worked hard at creating the tools that the Linux kernel runs. Linus Torvalds, however, has made no effort to hide his thoughts towards this naming convention, saying that "calling Linux in general just 'Linux' I think is ridiculous."[2]

Today, systems based on the Linux kernel are commonly referred to as Linux, with the notable exception of the Debian Linux distribution.[3] The topic continues to be a controversial subject to this day.

References

  1. About the GNU Project (Retrieved 06 April 2007).
  2. The "Linux" and "Linux" Controversy (Retrieved April 6th, 2007).
  3. Debian Linux distribution (Retrieved April 12th, 2007).

Related topics