www/gnu gnu-linux-faq.html

[Richard M. Stallman]

CVSROOT:        /webcvs/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Richard M. Stallman <rms>       09/10/18 03:18:34

Modified files:
        gnu            : gnu-linux-faq.html 

Log message:
        (brain, kernelmost): New questions.
        (house, companies): Clarifications.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.89&r2=1.90

Patches:
Index: gnu-linux-faq.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /webcvs/www/www/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html,v
retrieving revision 1.89
retrieving revision 1.90
diff -u -b -r1.89 -r1.90
--- gnu-linux-faq.html  4 Sep 2008 18:47:09 -0000       1.89
+++ gnu-linux-faq.html  18 Oct 2009 03:18:30 -0000      1.90
@@ -60,9 +60,15 @@
     system and a kernel?</a></li>
 
 <li><a href="#house" id="TOChouse">The kernel of a system is like the 
foundation
-    of a house?  How can a house be almost complete when it doesn't have a
+    of a house.  How can a house be almost complete when it doesn't have a
     foundation?</a></li>
 
+<li><a href="#brain" id="TOCbrain">Isn't the kernel the brain of the
+    system?</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="#kernelmost" id="TOCkernelmost">Isn't writing the kernel
+    most of the work in an operating system?</a></li>
+
 <li><a href="#afterkernel" id="TOCafterkernel">We're calling the whole
     system after the kernel, Linux.  Isn't it normal to name an
     operating system after a kernel?</a></li>
@@ -478,7 +484,7 @@
 </dd>
 
 <dt id="house">The kernel of a system is like the foundation of a
-    house?  How can a house be almost complete when it doesn't have a
+    house.  How can a house be almost complete when it doesn't have a
     foundation?</dt>
 
 <dd>
@@ -491,15 +497,30 @@
 has been built; all you have is a hole in the ground.</p>
 
 <p>
-By contrast, an operating system consists of loosely-coupled complex
+By contrast, an operating system consists of complex
 components that can be developed in any order.  When you have
 developed most of the components, most of the work is done.  This is
 much more like the International Space Station than like a house.  If
-most of the Space Station modules were in orbit and connected but
-awaiting one vital module, that would be like the GNU system in 1992.
+most of the Space Station modules were in orbit but awaiting one other
+essential module, that would be like the GNU system in 1992.
 </p>
 </dd>
 
+<dt id="brain">Isn't the kernel the brain of the system?</dt>
+
+<dd>
+A computer system is not much like a human body,
+and no part of it plays a role comparable to that of
+the brain in a human.
+</dd>
+
+<dt id="kernelmost">Isn't writing the kernel most of the work in an
+operating system?</dt>
+
+<dd>
+No, many components take a lot of work.
+</dd>
+
 <dt id="afterkernel">We're calling the
     whole system after the kernel, Linux.  Isn't it normal to name an
     operating system after a kernel?</dt>
@@ -729,19 +750,19 @@
 
 <dd>
 It isn't a choice of one or the other&mdash;we ask companies and
-organizations and individuals to help spread the word.  In fact, we
-have asked all three of those companies.  Mandrake uses the term
-&ldquo;GNU/Linux&rdquo; some of the time, but IBM and Red Hat were
-unwilling to help.  One executive said, &ldquo;This is a pure
-commercial decision; we expect to make more money calling it
+organizations and individuals to help spread the word about this.  In
+fact, we have asked all three of those companies.  Mandrake said it
+would use the term &ldquo;GNU/Linux&rdquo; some of the time, but IBM
+and Red Hat were unwilling to help.  One executive said, &ldquo;This
+is a pure commercial decision; we expect to make more money calling it
 &lsquo;Linux&rsquo;.&rdquo; In other words, that company did not care
 what was right.
 <p>
-We can't make them change, but we're not the sort to give up just
-because the road isn't easy.  You may not have as much influence at
-your disposal as IBM or Red Hat, but you can still help.  Together we
-can change the situation to the point where companies will make more
-profit calling it &ldquo;GNU/Linux&rdquo;.</p>
+We can't make them do this right, but we're not the sort to give up
+just because the road isn't easy.  You may not have as much influence
+at your disposal as IBM or Red Hat, but you can still help.  Together
+we can change the situation to the point where companies will make
+more profit calling it &ldquo;GNU/Linux&rdquo;.</p>
 </dd>
 
 <dt id="reserve">Wouldn't it be better to
@@ -1322,7 +1343,7 @@
 <p>
 Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2008/09/04 18:47:09 $
+$Date: 2009/10/18 03:18:30 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>