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www/gnu gnu-linux-faq.html
|
From: |
Matt Lee |
|
Subject: |
www/gnu gnu-linux-faq.html |
|
Date: |
Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:52:25 +0000 |
CVSROOT: /webcvs/www
Module name: www
Changes by: Matt Lee <mattl> 07/01/31 17:52:25
Modified files:
gnu : gnu-linux-faq.html
Log message:
Templated, removed TOC but kept ids from TOC to maintain links
CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.56&r2=1.57
Patches:
Index: gnu-linux-faq.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /webcvs/www/www/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html,v
retrieving revision 1.56
retrieving revision 1.57
diff -u -b -r1.56 -r1.57
--- gnu-linux-faq.html 27 Dec 2006 14:56:02 -0000 1.56
+++ gnu-linux-faq.html 31 Jan 2007 17:52:20 -0000 1.57
@@ -1,216 +1,22 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
-<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
- "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd";>
-<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"; xml:lang="en">
+<!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
-<head>
<title>GNU/Linux FAQ - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
-<meta http-equiv="content-type" content='text/html; charset=utf-8' />
-<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/gnu.css" />
-<link rev="made" href="address@hidden" />
-</head>
-<!-- This document is in XML, and xhtml 1.0 -->
-<!-- Please make sure to properly nest your tags -->
-<!-- and ensure that your final document validates -->
-<!-- consistent with W3C xhtml 1.0 and CSS standards -->
-<!-- See validator.w3.org -->
+<!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
-<body>
+<h2>GNU/Linux FAQ by Richard Stallman</h2>
-<h3>GNU/Linux FAQ</h3>
-<p>by <strong><a href="http://www.stallman.org";>Richard
Stallman</a></strong></p>
-
-<p><a href="/graphics/agnuhead.html"><img src="/graphics/gnu-head-sm.jpg"
- alt=" [image of the Head of a GNU] "
- width="129" height="122" /></a>
-</p>
-
-<p><a href="#translations">Translations</a> of this page</p>
-
-<p>
-<hr />
-</p>
-
<p>
When people see that we use and recommend the name GNU/Linux for a
-system that many others call just "Linux", they ask many questions.
+system that many others call just “Linux”, they ask many questions.
Here are common questions, and our answers.</p>
-<ul>
-
-<li><a href="#why" id="TOCwhy">Why do you call it GNU/Linux and not
Linux?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#whycare" id="TOCwhycare">Why is the name important?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#howerror" id="TOChowerror">How did it come about that most
- people call the system "Linux"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#always" id="TOCalways">Should we always say "GNU/Linux" instead
-of "Linux"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#linuxalone" id="TOClinuxalone">Would Linux have achieved
- the same success if there had been no GNU?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#divide" id="TOCdivide">Wouldn't it be better for the
- community if you did not divide people with this request?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#freespeech" id="TOCfreespeech">Doesn't the GNU project
- support an individual's free speech rights to call the system by
- any name that individual chooses?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#everyoneknows" id="TOCeveryoneknows">Since everyone knows
- the role of GNU in developing the system, doesn't the "GNU/" in the
- name go without saying?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#windows" id="TOCwindows">Isn't shortening "GNU/Linux"
- to "Linux" just like shortening "Microsoft Windows" to "Windows"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#tools" id="TOCtools">Isn't GNU a collection of programming
- tools that were included in Linux?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#osvskernel" id="TOCosvskernel">What is the difference between an
operating
- system and a kernel?</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>
-
-<li><a href="#long" id="TOClong">The problem with "GNU/Linux" is that it
- is too long. How about recommending a shorter name?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#justgnu" id="TOCjustgnu">Since Linux is a secondary
- contribution, would it be false to the facts to call the system
- simply "GNU"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#trademarkfee" id="TOCtrademarkfee">I would have
- to pay a fee if I use "Linux" in the name of a product, and that
- would also apply if I say "GNU/Linux". Is it wrong if I use "GNU"
- without "Linux", to save the fee?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#many" id="TOCmany">Many other projects contributed to the
- system as it is today; it includes TeX, X11, Apache, Perl, and many
- more programs. Don't your arguments imply we have to give them
- credit too? (But that would lead to a name so long it is
- absurd.)</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#others" id="TOCothers">Many other projects contributed to
- the system as it is today, but they don't insist on calling it
- XYZ/Linux. Why should we treat GNU specially?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#manycompanies" id="TOCmanycompanies">Many companies
- contributed to the system as it is today; doesn't that mean
- we ought to call it GNU/Redhat/Novell/Linux?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#whyslash" id="TOCwhyslash">Why do you write "GNU/Linux"
- instead of "GNU Linux"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#whyorder" id="TOCwhyorder">Why "GNU/Linux" rather than
-"Linux/GNU"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#distronames" id="TOCdistronames">My distro is called
- "Foobar Linux"; doesn't that show it's really Linux?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#distronames1" id="TOCdistronames1">My distro's
- official name is "Foobar Linux"; isn't it wrong to call the distro
- anything but "Linux"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#companies" id="TOCcompanies">Wouldn't it be more
- effective to ask companies such as Mandrake, Red Hat and IBM to
- call their distributions "GNU/Linux" rather than asking
- individuals?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#reserve" id="TOCreserve">Wouldn't it be better to reserve
- the name "GNU/Linux" for distributions that are purely free
- software? After all, that is the ideal of GNU.</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#gnudist" id="TOCgnudist">Why not make a GNU distribution of
- Linux (sic) and call that GNU/Linux?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#linuxgnu" id="TOClinuxgnu">Why not just say "Linux is
- the GNU kernel" and release some existing version of GNU/Linux
- under the name "GNU"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#condemn" id="TOCcondemn">Did the GNU Project condemn and
- oppose use of Linux in the early days?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#wait" id="TOCwait">Why did you wait so long before
- asking people to use the name GNU/Linux?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#allgpled" id="TOCallgpled">Should the GNU/[name] convention
- be applied to all programs that are GPL'ed?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#unix" id="TOCunix">Since much of GNU comes from Unix,
- shouldn't GNU give credit to Unix by using "Unix" in its name?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#bsd" id="TOCbsd">Should we say "GNU/BSD" too?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#othersys" id="TOCothersys">If I install the GNU tools on
- Windows, does that mean I am running a GNU/Windows system?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#justlinux" id="TOCjustlinux">Can't there be Linux systems
- without GNU?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#helplinus" id="TOChelplinus">Why not call the system
- "Linux" anyway, and strengthen Linus Torvalds' role as posterboy for our
- community?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#linusagreed" id="TOClinusagreed">Does Linus Torvalds
- agree that Linux is just the kernel?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#lost" id="TOClost">The battle is already lost--society has
- made its decision and we can't change it, so why even think about
- it?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#whatgood" id="TOCwhatgood">Society has made its decision
- and we can't change it, so what good does it do if I say
- "GNU/Linux"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#explain" id="TOCexplain">Wouldn't it be better to call the
- system "Linux" and teach people its real origin with a ten-minute
- explanation?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#treatment" id="TOCtreatment">Some people laugh at you when
- you ask them to call the system GNU/Linux. Why do you subject yourself
- to this treatment?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#alienate" id="TOCalienate">Some people condemn you when you
- ask them to call the system GNU/Linux. Don't you lose by
- alienating them?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#rename" id="TOCrename">Whatever you contributed,
- is it legitimate to rename the operating system?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#whynotsue" id="TOCwhynotsue">Why not sue people who call the
- whole system "Linux"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#require" id="TOCrequire">Shouldn't you put something in the GNU
GPL to
- require people to call the system "GNU"?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#deserve" id="TOCdeserve">Since you failed to put something in
the GNU GPL
- to require people to call the system "GNU", you deserve what
- happened; why are you complaining now?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#contradict" id="TOCcontradict">Wouldn't you be better off
- not contradicting what so many people believe?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#somanyright" id="TOCsomanyright">Since many people call it
- "Linux", doesn't that make it right?</a></li>
-
-<li><a href="#winning" id="TOCwinning">Many people care about what's
convenient or
- who's winning, not about arguments of right or wrong. Couldn't you
- get more of their support by a different road?</a></li>
-
-</ul>
-
-<hr />
-
<dl>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCwhy" id="why">Why do you call it GNU/Linux and not
- Linux?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="why">Why do you call it GNU/Linux and not
+ Linux?</dt>
<dd>Most operating system distributions based on Linux as kernel are
basically modified versions of the GNU operating system. We began
@@ -228,8 +34,8 @@
href="/gnu/the-gnu-project.html">"The GNU Project"</a> for the
history.</p> </dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCwhycare" id="whycare">Why is the name
- important?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="whycare">Why is the name
+ important?</dt>
<dd>Although the developers of Linux, the kernel, are contributing to
the free software community, many of them do not care about freedom.
@@ -244,51 +50,51 @@
practical importance of these ideals</a>.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOChowerror" id="howerror">How did it come about that
most
- people call the system "Linux"?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="howerror">How did it come about that most
+ people call the system “Linux”?</dt>
-<dd>Calling the system "Linux" is a confusion that has spread faster
+<dd>Calling the system “Linux” is a confusion that has spread
faster
than the corrective information.
<p>
The people who combined Linux with the GNU system were not aware that
that's what their activity amounted to. They focused their attention
on the piece that was Linux and did not realize that more of the
-combination was GNU. They started calling it "Linux" even though that
+combination was GNU. They started calling it “Linux” even though
that
name did not fit what they had. It took a few years for us to realize
what a problem this was and ask people to correct the practice. By
that time, the confusion had a big head start.</p>
<p>
-Most of the people who call the system "Linux" have never heard why
+Most of the people who call the system “Linux” have never heard why
that's not the right thing. They saw others using that name and
-assume it must be right. The name "Linux" also spreads a false
+assume it must be right. The name “Linux” also spreads a false
picture of the system's origin, because people tend to suppose that
the system's history was such as to fit that name. For
instance, they often believe its development was started by Linus
Torvalds in 1991. This false picture tends to reinforce the idea
-that the system should be called "Linux".</p>
+that the system should be called “Linux”.</p>
<p>
Many of the questions in this file represent people's attempts to
justify the name they are accustomed to using.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCalways" id="always">Should we always say
- "GNU/Linux" instead of "Linux"?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="always">Should we always say
+ "GNU/Linux" instead of “Linux”?</dt>
<dd>
Not always--only when you're talking about the whole system. When
you're referring specifically to the kernel, you should call it
-"Linux", the name its developer chose.
+“Linux”, the name its developer chose.
<p>
-When people call the whole system "Linux", as a consequence
+When people call the whole system “Linux”, as a consequence
they call the whole system by the same name as the kernel.
This causes many kinds of confusion, because only experts can tell
whether a statement is about the kernel or the whole system.
By calling the whole system "GNU/Linux", and calling the kernel
-"Linux", you avoid the ambiguity.</p>
+“Linux”, you avoid the ambiguity.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOClinuxalone" id="linuxalone">Would Linux have
+<dt id="linuxalone">Would Linux have
achieved the same success if there had been no
- GNU?</a></strong></dt>
+ GNU?</dt>
<dd>
In that alternative world, there would be nothing today like the
@@ -309,8 +115,8 @@
framework, a complete free operating system: GNU/Linux.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCdivide" id="divide">Wouldn't it be better for the
- community if you did not divide people with this request?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="divide">Wouldn't it be better for the
+ community if you did not divide people with this request?</dt>
<dd>
When we ask people to say "GNU/Linux", we are not dividing people. We
@@ -350,9 +156,9 @@
are defeated entirely (let's hope not).</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCfreespeech" id="freespeech">Doesn't the GNU project
+<dt id="freespeech">Doesn't the GNU project
support an individual's free speech rights to call the system by
- any name that individual chooses?</a></strong></dt>
+ any name that individual chooses?</dt>
<dd>
Yes, indeed, we believe you have a free speech right to call the
operating system by any name you wish. We ask that people call it
@@ -362,9 +168,9 @@
</dd>
<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCeveryoneknows" id="everyoneknows">Since everyone knows
+<dt id="everyoneknows">Since everyone knows
GNU's role in developing the system, doesn't the "GNU/" in the
- name go without saying?</a></strong></dt>
+ name go without saying?</dt>
<dd>Experience shows that the system's users, and the computer-using
public in general, often know nothing about the GNU system. Most
@@ -385,8 +191,8 @@
this or some other activity, but not that of GNU.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCwindows" id="windows">Isn't shortening "GNU/Linux"
- to "Linux" just like shortening "Microsoft Windows" to
"Windows"?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="windows">Isn't shortening "GNU/Linux"
+ to “Linux” just like shortening "Microsoft Windows" to
"Windows"?</dt>
<dd>
It's useful to shorten a frequently-used name, but not if the
@@ -395,7 +201,7 @@
Most everyone in developed countries really does know that the
"Windows" system is made by Microsoft, so shortening "Microsoft
Windows" to "Windows" does not mislead anyone as to that system's
-nature and origin. Shortening "GNU/Linux" to "Linux" does give the
+nature and origin. Shortening "GNU/Linux" to “Linux” does give the
wrong idea.</p>
<p>
The question is itself misleading because it compares "GNU" to a
@@ -404,8 +210,8 @@
GNU and Microsoft are not comparable.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCtools" id="tools">Isn't GNU a collection of
- programming tools that were included in Linux?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="tools">Isn't GNU a collection of
+ programming tools that were included in Linux?</dt>
<dd>
People who think that Linux is an entire operating system, if they
@@ -414,7 +220,7 @@
say "programming tools", since some of our programming tools became
popular on their own. The idea that "GNU" is the name of an operating
system is hard to fit into a conceptual framework in which that
-operating system is labeled "Linux".
+operating system is labeled “Linux”.
<p>
The GNU Project was named after the GNU operating system--it's the project
to develop the GNU system. (See <a
@@ -429,8 +235,8 @@
too.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCosvskernel" id="osvskernel">What is the difference
-between an operating system and a kernel?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="osvskernel">What is the difference
+between an operating system and a kernel?</dt>
<dd>
An operating system, as we use the term, means a collection of
@@ -456,7 +262,7 @@
they are using "operating system" in the same sense we use: they mean
the whole collection of programs. If that's what you are referring
to, please call it "GNU/Linux". If you mean just the kernel, then
-"Linux" is the right name for it, but please say "kernel" also to
+“Linux” is the right name for it, but please say "kernel" also to
avoid ambiguity about which body of software you mean.</p>
<p>
If you prefer to use some other term such as "system distribution" for
@@ -465,13 +271,13 @@
distributions.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCafterkernel" id="afterkernel">We're calling the
+<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?</a></strong></dt>
+ operating system after a kernel?</dt>
<dd>
That practice seems to be very rare--we can't find any examples other
-than the misuse of the name "Linux". Normally an operating system is
+than the misuse of the name “Linux”. Normally an operating system
is
developed as a single unified project, and the developers choose a
name for the system as a whole. The kernel usually does not have a
name of its own--instead, people say "the kernel of such-and-such" or
@@ -484,21 +290,21 @@
"the kernel, Linux" or "Linux, the kernel."</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOClong" id="long">The problem with "GNU/Linux" is that
it is too long.
- How about recommending a shorter name?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="long">The problem with "GNU/Linux" is that it is too long.
+ How about recommending a shorter name?</dt>
<dd>
For a while we tried the name "LiGNUx", which combines the words "GNU"
-and "Linux". The reaction was very bad. People accept "GNU/Linux"
+and “Linux”. The reaction was very bad. People accept "GNU/Linux"
much better.
<p>
The shortest legitimate name for this system is "GNU", but we call it
"GNU/Linux" for the reasons given below.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCjustgnu" id="justgnu">Since Linux is a secondary
+<dt id="justgnu">Since Linux is a secondary
contribution, would it be false to the facts to call the system simply
- "GNU"?</a></strong></dt>
+ "GNU"?</dt>
<dd>
It would not be false to the facts, but it is not the best thing to
@@ -514,23 +320,22 @@
credit to Linus Torvalds. He did write an important component of the
system. We want to get credit for launching and sustaining the
system's development, but this doesn't mean we should treat Linus the
-same way those who call the system "Linux" treat us. We strongly
+same way those who call the system “Linux” treat us. We strongly
disagree with his political views, but we deal with that disagreement
honorably and openly, rather than by trying to cut him out of the
credit for his contribution to the system.</li>
<li>
-Since many people know of the system as "Linux", if we say "GNU" they
+Since many people know of the system as “Linux”, if we say "GNU"
they
may simply not recognize we're talking about the same system. If we
say "GNU/Linux", they can make a connection to what they have heard
about.</li>
</ul>
</dd>
-<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCtrademarkfee" id="trademarkfee">I would have
- to pay a fee if I use "Linux" in the name of a product, and that
+<dt id="trademarkfee">I would have
+ to pay a fee if I use “Linux” in the name of a product, and
that
would also apply if I say "GNU/Linux". Is it wrong if I use "GNU"
- without "Linux", to save the fee?</a></strong></dt>
+ without “Linux”, to save the fee?</dt>
<dd>
There's nothing wrong in calling the system "GNU"; basically, that's
what it is. It is nice to give Linus Torvalds a share of the credit
@@ -538,14 +343,14 @@
so.
<p>
So if you want to refer to the system simply as "GNU", to avoid paying
-the fee for calling it "Linux", we won't criticize you.</p>
+the fee for calling it “Linux”, we won't criticize you.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCmany" id="many">Many other projects contributed to
+<dt id="many">Many other projects contributed to
the system as it is today; it includes TeX, X11, Apache, Perl, and many
more programs. Don't your arguments imply we have to give them credit
too? (But that would lead to a name so long it is
- absurd.)</a></strong></dt>
+ absurd.)</dt>
<dd>
What we say is that you ought to give the system's principal developer
@@ -568,14 +373,14 @@
<p>
Different threshold levels would lead to different choices of name for
the system. But one name that cannot result from concerns of fairness
-and giving credit, not for any possible threshold level, is "Linux".
+and giving credit, not for any possible threshold level, is
“Linux”.
It can't be fair to give all the credit to one secondary contribution
(Linux) while omitting the principal contribution (GNU).</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCothers" id="others">Many other projects contributed to
+<dt id="others">Many other projects contributed to
the system as it is today, but they don't insist on calling it
- XYZ/Linux. Why should we treat GNU specially?</a></strong></dt>
+ XYZ/Linux. Why should we treat GNU specially?</dt>
<dd>
Thousands of projects have developed programs commonly included in
@@ -589,9 +394,9 @@
framework on which the system was made.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCmanycompanies" id="manycompanies">Many companies
+<dt id="manycompanies">Many companies
contributed to the system as it is today; doesn't that mean
- we ought to call it GNU/Redhat/Novell/Linux?</a></strong></dt>
+ we ought to call it GNU/Redhat/Novell/Linux?</dt>
<dd>
<p>
@@ -609,12 +414,12 @@
</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCwhyslash" id="whyslash">Why do you write "GNU/Linux"
-instead of "GNU Linux"?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="whyslash">Why do you write "GNU/Linux"
+instead of "GNU Linux"?</dt>
<dd>
Following the rules of English, in the construction "GNU Linux" the
-word "GNU" modifies "Linux". This can mean either "GNU's version of
+word "GNU" modifies “Linux”. This can mean either "GNU's version
of
Linux" or "Linux, which is a GNU package." Neither of those meanings
fits the situation at hand.
<p>
@@ -639,8 +444,8 @@
"GNU-Linux". In Spanish, we sometimes say "GNU con Linux".</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCwhyorder" id="whyorder">Why "GNU/Linux" rather
-than "Linux/GNU"?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="whyorder">Why "GNU/Linux" rather
+than "Linux/GNU"?</dt>
<dd>
It is right and proper to mention the principal contribution first.
@@ -652,18 +457,17 @@
make it seem that the whole system is Linux.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCdistronames" id="distronames">My distro is called
- "Foobar Linux"; doesn't that show it's really Linux?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="distronames">My distro is called
+ "Foobar Linux"; doesn't that show it's really Linux?</dt>
<dd>
It means that the people who make the "Foobar Linux" distro are
repeating the common mistake.
</dd>
-<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCdistronames1" id="distronames1">My distro's
+<dt id="distronames1">My distro's
official name is "Foobar Linux"; isn't it wrong to call the distro
- anything but "Linux"?</a></strong></dt>
+ anything but “Linux”?</dt>
<dd>
If it's allowed for them to change "GNU" to "Foobar Linux", it's
@@ -672,11 +476,10 @@
to make the mistake.
</dd>
-<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCcompanies" id="companies">Wouldn't it be more
+<dt id="companies">Wouldn't it be more
effective to ask companies such as Mandrake, Red Hat and IBM to
call their distributions "GNU/Linux" rather than asking
- individuals?</a></strong></dt>
+ individuals?</dt>
<dd>
It isn't a choice of one or the other--we ask companies and
@@ -694,15 +497,15 @@
profit calling it "GNU/Linux".</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCreserve" id="reserve">Wouldn't it be better to
+<dt id="reserve">Wouldn't it be better to
reserve the name "GNU/Linux" for distributions that are purely
- free software? After all, that is the ideal of GNU.</a></strong></dt>
+ free software? After all, that is the ideal of GNU.</dt>
<dd>
The widespread practice of adding non-free software to the GNU/Linux
system is a major problem for our community. It teaches the users
that non-free software is ok, and that using it is part of the spirit
-of "Linux". Many "Linux" User Groups make it part of their mission to
+of “Linux”. Many “Linux” User Groups make it part of
their mission to
help users use non-free add-ons, and may even invite salesmen to come
and make sales pitches for them. They adopt goals such as "helping
the users" of GNU/Linux (including helping them use non-free
@@ -736,11 +539,11 @@
views, but don't let them drag you along!</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCgnudist" id="gnudist">Why not make a GNU
- distribution of Linux (sic) and call that GNU/Linux?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="gnudist">Why not make a GNU
+ distribution of Linux (sic) and call that GNU/Linux?</dt>
<dd>
-All the "Linux" distributions are actually versions of the GNU system
+All the “Linux” distributions are actually versions of the GNU
system
with Linux as the kernel. The purpose of the term "GNU/Linux" is to
communicate this point. To develop one new distribution and call that
alone "GNU/Linux" would obscure the point we want to make.
@@ -752,9 +555,9 @@
other distributions, it would serve no purpose.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOClinuxgnu" id="linuxgnu">Why not just say "Linux is
+<dt id="linuxgnu">Why not just say "Linux is
the GNU kernel" and release some existing version of GNU/Linux under
- the name "GNU"?</a></strong></dt>
+ the name "GNU"?</dt>
<dd>
It might have been a good idea to adopt Linux as the GNU kernel back
@@ -766,12 +569,12 @@
<p>
There is another reason why we don't want to take some existing
version of GNU/Linux and relabel it as "GNU": that would be somewhat
-like making a version of the GNU system and labeling it "Linux".
+like making a version of the GNU system and labeling it “Linux”.
That wasn't right, and we don't want to act like that.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCcondemn" id="condemn">Did the GNU Project condemn
- and oppose use of Linux in the early days?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="condemn">Did the GNU Project condemn
+ and oppose use of Linux in the early days?</dt>
<dd>
We did not adopt Linux as our kernel, but we didn't condemn or oppose
@@ -793,14 +596,14 @@
only) group that was unwilling to work with us.</p>
<p>
It was this experience that first showed us that people were calling a
-version of the GNU system "Linux", and that this confusion was
+version of the GNU system “Linux”, and that this confusion was
obstructing our work. Asking you to call the system "GNU/Linux" is
our response to that problem, and to the other problems caused by the
-"Linux" misnomer.</p>
+“Linux” misnomer.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCwait" id="wait">Why did you wait so
- long before asking people to use the name GNU/Linux?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="wait">Why did you wait so
+ long before asking people to use the name GNU/Linux?</dt>
<dd>
Actually we didn't. We began talking privately with developers and
@@ -808,9 +611,8 @@
1996. We will continue for as long as it's necessary.
</dd>
-<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCallgpled" id="allgpled">Should the GNU/[name]
- convention be applied to all programs that are GPL'ed?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="allgpled">Should the GNU/[name]
+ convention be applied to all programs that are GPL'ed?</dt>
<dd>
We never refer to individual programs as "GNU/[name]". When a program
@@ -852,9 +654,9 @@
Linux alone.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCunix" id="unix">Since much of GNU comes
+<dt id="unix">Since much of GNU comes
from Unix, shouldn't GNU give credit
-to Unix by using "Unix" in its name?</a></strong></dt>
+to Unix by using "Unix" in its name?</dt>
<dd>
Actually, none of GNU comes from Unix. Unix was proprietary software
@@ -895,8 +697,8 @@
name.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCbsd" id="bsd">Should we say "GNU/BSD"
-too?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="bsd">Should we say "GNU/BSD"
+too?</dt>
<dd>
We don't call the BSD systems (FreeBSD, etc.) "GNU/BSD" systems,
@@ -929,8 +731,8 @@
is the same as the GNU/Linux system.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCothersys" id="othersys">If I install the GNU tools
-on Windows, does that mean I am running a GNU/Windows system?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="othersys">If I install the GNU tools
+on Windows, does that mean I am running a GNU/Windows system?</dt>
<dd>
Not in the same sense that we mean by "GNU/Linux". The tools of GNU
@@ -941,8 +743,8 @@
</dd>
<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCjustlinux" id="justlinux">Can't there be Linux systems
- without GNU?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="justlinux">Can't there be Linux systems
+ without GNU?</dt>
<dd>
It is possible to make a system that uses Linux as the kernel but is
@@ -969,9 +771,9 @@
are different.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOChelplinus" id="helplinus">Why not call the system
- "Linux" anyway, and strengthen Linus Torvalds' role as posterboy for our
- community?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="helplinus">Why not call the system
+ “Linux” anyway, and strengthen Linus Torvalds' role as
posterboy for our
+ community?</dt>
<dd>
Linus Torvalds is the "posterboy" (other people's choice of word, not
@@ -981,11 +783,11 @@
availability. He has never advocated
<a href="/philosophy/why-free.html">freedom to cooperate</a> as an
ethical principle, which is why the public does not connect the name
-"Linux" with that principle.
+“Linux” with that principle.
<p>
Linus publicly states his disagreement with the free software
movement's ideals. He developed non-free software in his job for many
-years (and said so to a large audience at a "Linux"World show), and
+years (and said so to a large audience at a “Linux”World show), and
publicly invites fellow developers of Linux, the kernel, to use
non-free software to work on it with him. He goes even further, and
rebukes people who suggest that engineers and scientists should
@@ -1002,22 +804,21 @@
stems from ideals of freedom, not from his views.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOClinusagreed" id="linusagreed">Does Linus Torvalds
- agree that Linux is just the kernel?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="linusagreed">Does Linus Torvalds
+ agree that Linux is just the kernel?</dt>
<dd>
He recognized this at the beginning. The earliest Linux release notes
-said, <A
+said, <a
href="http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/Historic/old-versions/RELNOTES-0.01";>
"Most of the tools used with linux are GNU software and are under the
GNU copyleft. These tools aren't in the distribution - ask me (or GNU)
-for more info."</A>
+for more info."</a>
</dd>
-<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOClost" id="lost">The battle is already lost--society
+<dt id="lost">The battle is already lost--society
has made its decision and we can't change it, so why even think about
- it?</a></strong></dt>
+ it?</dt>
<dd>
This isn't a battle, it is a campaign of education. What to call the
@@ -1029,9 +830,9 @@
</dd>
<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCwhatgood" id="whatgood">Society has made its
+<dt id="whatgood">Society has made its
decision and we can't change it, so what good does it do if I say
- "GNU/Linux"?</a></strong></dt>
+ "GNU/Linux"?</dt>
<dd>
This is not an all-or-nothing situation: correct and incorrect
@@ -1045,9 +846,9 @@
</dd>
<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCexplain" id="explain">Wouldn't it be better to call
- the system "Linux" and teach people its real origin with a ten-minute
- explanation?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="explain">Wouldn't it be better to call
+ the system “Linux” and teach people its real origin with a
ten-minute
+ explanation?</dt>
<dd>
If you help us by explaining to others in that way, we appreciate your
@@ -1059,7 +860,7 @@
attention, and they may learn a correct picture of the system's
origin. But they are unlikely to repeat the explanation to others
whenever they talk about the system. They will probably just call it
-"Linux". Without particularly intending to, they will help spread the
+“Linux”. Without particularly intending to, they will help spread
the
incorrect picture.</p>
<p>
It is inefficient because it takes a lot more time. Saying and
@@ -1069,12 +870,12 @@
by far the easiest way to help the GNU Project effectively.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCtreatment" id="treatment">Some people laugh at you
+<dt id="treatment">Some people laugh at you
when you ask them to call the system GNU/Linux. Why do you subject
- yourself to this treatment?</a></strong></dt>
+ yourself to this treatment?</dt>
<dd>
-Calling the system "Linux" tends to give people a mistaken picture of
+Calling the system “Linux” tends to give people a mistaken picture
of
the system's history and reason for existence. People who laugh at
our request probably have picked up that mistaken picture--they think
our work was done by Linus, so they laugh when we ask for credit for
@@ -1091,9 +892,9 @@
stop laughing.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCalienate" id="alienate">Some people condemn you
+<dt id="alienate">Some people condemn you
when you ask them to call the system GNU/Linux. Don't you lose by
- alienating them?</a></strong></dt>
+ alienating them?</dt>
<dd>
Not much. People who don't appreciate our role in developing the
@@ -1109,17 +910,17 @@
Therefore, we will continue trying to correct the misnomer.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCrename" id="rename">Whatever you contributed,
- is it legitimate to rename the operating system?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="rename">Whatever you contributed,
+ is it legitimate to rename the operating system?</dt>
<dd>
We are not renaming anything; we have been calling this system "GNU"
ever since we started it, in 1983. The people who tried to rename
-it to "Linux" should not have done so.</dd>
+it to “Linux” should not have done so.</dd>
<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCwhynotsue" id="whynotsue">Why not sue people who call
-the whole system "Linux"?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="whynotsue">Why not sue people who call
+the whole system “Linux”?</dt>
<dd>
There are no legal grounds to sue them, but since we believe in
@@ -1128,24 +929,24 @@
</dd>
<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCrequire" id="require">Shouldn't you put something in
- the GNU GPL to require people to call the system "GNU"?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="require">Shouldn't you put something in
+ the GNU GPL to require people to call the system "GNU"?</dt>
<dd>
The purpose of the GNU GPL is to protect the users' freedom from those
who would make proprietary versions of free software. While it is
-true that those who call the system "Linux" often do things that limit
+true that those who call the system “Linux” often do things that
limit
the users' freedom, such as bundling non-free software with the
GNU/Linux system or even developing non-free software for such use,
-the mere act of calling the system "Linux" does not, in itself, deny
+the mere act of calling the system “Linux” does not, in itself,
deny
users their freedom. It seems improper to make the GPL restrict what
name people can use for the system.
</dd>
<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCdeserve" id="deserve">Since you failed to put
+<dt id="deserve">Since you failed to put
something in the GNU GPL to require people to call the system "GNU",
- you deserve what happened; why are you complaining now?</a></strong></dt>
+ you deserve what happened; why are you complaining now?</dt>
<dd>
The question presupposes a rather controversial general ethical
@@ -1156,8 +957,8 @@
We hope you disagree with that premise just as we do.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCcontradict" id="contradict">Wouldn't you be better
- off not contradicting what so many people believe?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="contradict">Wouldn't you be better
+ off not contradicting what so many people believe?</dt>
<dd>
We don't think we should go along with large numbers of people who
@@ -1169,18 +970,18 @@
was legitimate and acceptable.</p>
</dd>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCsomanyright" id="somanyright">Since many people call
-it "Linux", doesn't that make it right?</a></strong></dt>
+<dt id="somanyright">Since many people call
+it “Linux”, doesn't that make it right?</dt>
<dd>
We don't think that the popularity of an error makes it the truth.
</dd>
<br>
-<dt><strong><a href="#TOCwinning" id="winning">Many people care about what's
+<dt id="winning">Many people care about what's
convenient or who's winning, not about arguments of right or wrong.
Couldn't you get more of their support by a different
- road?</a></strong></dt>
+ road?</dt>
<dd>
To care only about what's convenient or who's winning is an amoral
@@ -1194,9 +995,10 @@
</dl>
-<hr />
-<h4><a href="/gnu/gnu.html">More about the GNU Project</a></h4>
-<hr />
+
+</div>
+
+<!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
<!-- All pages on the GNU web server should have the section about -->
<!-- verbatim copying. Please do NOT remove this without talking -->
@@ -1204,9 +1006,6 @@
<!-- Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the document -->
<!-- and that it is like this "2001, 2002" not this "2001-2002." -->
-<div class="translations">
-<p><a id="translations"></a>
-<b>Translations of this page</b>:<br />
<!-- Please keep this list alphabetical, and in the original -->
<!-- language if possible, otherwise default to English -->
@@ -1221,21 +1020,7 @@
<!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right versus -->
<!-- http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm -->
-[
- <a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.de.html">Deutsch</a> <!-- German -->
-| <a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html">English</a>
-| <a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.es.html">Español</a> <!-- Spanish -->
-| <a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.ko.html">한국어</a> <!--
Korean -->
-| <a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.pl.html">Polski</a> <!-- Polish -->
-| <a
href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.sr.html">Српски</a>
<!-- Serbian -->
-]
-</p>
-</div>
-
-<div class="copyright">
-<p>
-Return to the <a href="/home.html">GNU Project home page</a>.
-</p>
+<div id="footer">
<p>
Please send FSF & GNU inquiries to
@@ -1266,10 +1051,22 @@
<p>
Updated:
<!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2006/12/27 14:56:02 $
+$Date: 2007/01/31 17:52:20 $
<!-- timestamp end -->
</p>
</div>
+<div id="translations">
+ <h4>Translations of this page</h4>
+ <ul class="translations-list">
+ <li><a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.de.html">Deutsch</a></li> <!-- German
-->
+ <li><a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html">English</a></li>
+ <li><a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.es.html">Español</a></li> <!--
Spanish -->
+ <li><a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.ko.html">한국어</a></li>
<!-- Korean -->
+ <li><a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.pl.html">Polski</a></li> <!-- Polish -->
+ <li><a
href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.sr.html">Српски</a></li>
<!-- Serbian -->
+ </ul>
+</div>
+</div>
</body>
</html>
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