Re: Can linux kernel claim it uses GPL v2?

[David Kastrup]

"Alfred M. Szmidt" <ams@gnu.org> writes:

>    > Yes.  Linux isn't the main kernel that GLIBC supports to begin
>    > with.
>
>    Really? Did you check it with Drepper of Red Hat, GNUtian ueber
>    moron ams?
>
> There is a reason why it is called the GNU C library.

<URL:http://www.gnu.org/software/libc/FAQ.html#s-1.1>

    The systems glibc is known to work on as of this release, and most
    probably in the future, are:

            *-*-gnu                     GNU Hurd
            i[3456]86-*-linux-gnu       Linux-2.x on Intel
            m68k-*-linux-gnu    Linux-2.x on Motorola 680x0
            alpha*-*-linux-gnu  Linux-2.x on DEC Alpha
            powerpc-*-linux-gnu     Linux and MkLinux on PowerPC systems
            powerpc64-*-linux-gnu       Linux-2.4+ on 64-bit PowerPC systems
            sparc-*-linux-gnu   Linux-2.x on SPARC
            sparc64-*-linux-gnu Linux-2.x on UltraSPARC
            arm-*-none          ARM standalone systems
            arm-*-linux         Linux-2.x on ARM
            arm-*-linuxaout             Linux-2.x on ARM using a.out binaries
            mips*-*-linux-gnu   Linux-2.x on MIPS
            ia64-*-linux-gnu    Linux-2.x on ia64
            s390-*-linux-gnu    Linux-2.x on IBM S/390
            s390x-*-linux-gnu   Linux-2.x on IBM S/390 64-bit
            cris-*-linux-gnu    Linux-2.4+ on CRIS

  -snip-

The old GNU libc supported other platforms, but at some point of time
the availability of a production quality free kernel made it sensible
to focus on those platforms which relied on glibc for a complete free
system.  In a similar vein, portability to compilers other than GCC
has been flushed: no point in complicating the code for the sake of
non-free alternatives when a good free one is available.

The Hurd is not even of much interest to RMS himself anymore.  No harm
if it becomes feasible at one point of time, but nothing that is yet
of major strategic interest to the GNU project.  Linux fits the bill
as a kernel well enough.  Whether the GPLv3 controversy might be able
to rekindle some of the interest remains to be seen.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum