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Why GNU/Linux?
Most operating system distributions based on Linux as kernel are basically modified versions of the GNU operating system. We began developing GNU in 1984, years before Linus Torvalds started to write his kernel. Our goal was to develop a complete free operating system. Of course, we did not develop all the parts ourselves—but we led the way. We developed most of the central components, forming the largest single contribution to the whole system. The basic vision was ours too.
In fairness, we ought to get at least equal mention. [1]
GNU
The GNU operating system is a complete free software system, upward-compatible with Unix. GNU stands for “GNU's Not Unix”. Richard Stallman made the Initial Announcement of the GNU Project in September 1983. A longer version called the GNU Manifesto was published in March 1985. It has been translated into several other languages.
The name “GNU” was chosen because it met a few requirements; first, it was a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not Unix”, second, because it was a real word, and third, it was fun to say (or Sing).
The word “free” in “free software” pertains to freedom, not price. You may or may not pay a price to get GNU software. Either way, once you have the software you have three specific freedoms in using it. First, the freedom to copy the program and give it away to your friends and co-workers; second, the freedom to change the program as you wish, by having full access to source code; third, the freedom to distribute an improved version and thus help build the community. (If you redistribute GNU software, you may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, or you may give away copies.)
The project to develop the GNU system is called the “GNU Project”. The GNU Project was conceived in 1983 as a way of bringing back the cooperative spirit that prevailed in the computing community in earlier days—to make cooperation possible once again by removing the obstacles to cooperation imposed by the owners of proprietary software.[2]
Linux
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems.[3] It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software.[4]
The Linux kernel is released under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2),[5] (plus some firmware images with various licenses), and is developed by contributors worldwide. Day-to-day development takes place on the Linux kernel mailing list.
The Linux kernel was initially conceived and created by Finnish computer science student[6] Linus Torvalds in 1991. Linux rapidly accumulated developers and users who adopted code from other free software projects for use with the new operating system.[7] The Linux kernel has received contributions from thousands of programmers.[8] Many GNU/Linux distributions have been released based upon the Linux kernel.
- Read more: wikipedia:Linux (kernel)
References
- ↑ Stallman, Richard M (2010/07/29). "Why do you call it GNU/Linux and not Linux?". Free Software Foundation. http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#why. Retrieved 2010/10/13.
- ↑ "Overview of the GNU System". Free Software Foundation. 2010/06/29. http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-history.html. Retrieved 2010/10/17.
- ↑ README
- ↑ Linus Torvalds (2006-09-25). "Re: GPLv3 Position Statement". http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/9/25/161.
- ↑ COPYING
- ↑ Marjorie Richardson (1 November 1999). "Interview: Linus Torvalds". Linux Journal. http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/3655. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
- ↑ Free as in Freedom by Sam Williams. O'Reilly books, 2002
- ↑ Greg Kroah-Hartman (April 2008). "Linux Kernel Development: How Fast it is Going, Who is Doing It, What They are Doing, and Who is Sponsoring It". http://www.linuxfoundation.org/publications/linuxkerneldevelopment.php. "Since 2005, over 3700 individual developers from over 200 different companies have contributed to the kernel."