[Ilugc] why GNU should not be added to linux
- From: open.source@xxxxxxx (Arun Kumar)
- Date: Sun Jun 6 15:23:35 2010
On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 5:27 PM, Praveen A <pravi.a@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
2010/6/6 Kenneth Gonsalves <lawgon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
who said so? people did/do it because they enjoy doing it - the guys with
idealogy usually spend their time preaching and not developing and
maintaining
software.
That is exactly why RMS insists on mentioning GNU in the name. Because
GNU project was not started for fun, it was started to create a Free
Unix like Operating System. Linux was written for fun. So those who
believe ideology is important should continue to highlight why GNU was
written, and adding GNU in the name is one such way. If people don't
subscribe to this view, there are many, they can continue calling it
Linux.
Couple of articles by Rich Stallman:
http://www.gnu.org/gnu/why-gnu-linux.html
http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html
<quote>
Is it important whether people know the system's origin, history, and purpose?
Yes?because people who forget history are often condemned to repeat it. The
Free World that has developed around GNU/Linux is not guaranteed to survive;
the problems that led us to develop GNU are not completely eradicated, and they
threaten to come back.
***
When I explain why it's appropriate to call the operating system GNU/Linux
rather than Linux, people sometimes respond this way:
Granted that the GNU Project deserves credit for this work, is it really worth
a fuss when people don't give credit? Isn't the important thing that the job
was done, not who did it? You ought to relax, take pride in the job well done,
and not worry about the credit.
***
This would be wise advice, if only the situation were like that?if the job were
done and it were time to relax. If only that were true! But challenges abound,
and this is no time to take the future for granted. Our community's strength
rests on commitment to freedom and cooperation. Using the name GNU/Linux is a
way for people to remind themselves and inform others of these goals.
It is possible to write good free software without thinking of GNU; much good
work has been done in the name of Linux also. But the term ?Linux? has been
associated ever since it was first coined with a philosophy that does not make
a commitment to the freedom to cooperate. As the name is increasingly used by
business, we will have even more trouble making it connect with community
spirit.
</quote>?
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