You seem to like the lines-of-code metric. There are many lines of GNU code in a typical Linux distribution. You seem to suggest that (more LOC) == (more important). However, I submit to you that raw LOC numbers do not directly correlate with importance. I would suggest that clock cycles spent on code is a better metric. For example, if my system spends 90% of its time executing XFree86 code, XFree86 is probably the single most important collection of code on my system. Even if I loaded ten times as many lines of useless bloatware on my system and I never excuted that bloatware, it certainly isn’t more important code than XFree86. Obviously, this metric isn’t perfect either, but LOC really, really sucks. Please refrain from using it ever again in supporting any argument.
Can confirm it’s a shitty metric. I once saved the company I was working at few millions by changing one line of code. And it took 3 days to find it. And it was only 3 characters changed.
But did you add 3 characters? Gotta bump up that code count bruh.
That’s the curse and blessing of our profession: efficiency of work is almost impossible to measure once you go beyond very simple code.
You can feel like a hero for changing three characters and finally fixing that nasty, or you can feel like an absolute disgrace for needing days to find such a simple fix. Your manager employs the same duality of judgement
Ubuntu: “Linux”
Fedora: “Linux”
Arch: “Linux”
Gentoo: “Linux”
Slackware: “Linux”
Debian: “Free Operating System”There’s more truth to that than most people realize: Linux is only one kernel option in Debian:
Debian: “Libre Operating System”
FTFY
There are distros without GNU, like alpine.
The shortest proper name is GNU.
Inb4 Alpine, which is just called “Linux” internally.
People use terrible words in CS and engineering in general. Doesn’t mean we don’t challenge them.
I mean, GNU wants to be called an operating system but it can’t talk to hardware.
Linux want to be called an operating system but it’s a kernel.
if only there was a way to combine these two…
And hardware can’t talk to it. Has it ever occurred to you that there’s more at stake here? That companies feel the need to lock away hardware in order to drive their profit line.
At least GNU has something interesting to say about computer science. And for what it’s worth, it’s telling to know that you woild rather disparage GNU rather than the purposeful decisions made by executives and manufactuers to render both hardware and software undocumented and subjugating.
But no! That’s “unfixable” and we need to learn how to “deal with it.” God forbid anyone makes a ruckus about it. Freedom for me but not for thee in this fast paced economy.
You picked the status quo and are now complaining that people reject the status quo.
I feel like you misunderstood. Operating system has many functions, one of the most important ones is talking to hardware. GNU cannot do that because that’s the kernel’s job. And the kernel is Linux. So they claim they’re an operating system but can’t do the most fundamental thing an operating system needs to do.
What? GNU has a kernel, it’s called Linux!
no. gnu does have a kernel. But it’s not linux. it’s called gnu hurd. It is actually about a year older than linux. It isn’t finished, and barely anyone uses it
GNU has both Hurd and Linux, very powerful indeed!
just, no. linux is simply not a gnu project. at all.
If it were, we wouldn’t be hearing about them wanting to call it gnu/linux because, in their own words, the os is “gnu with linux added”
they’d just want to call it gnu.
a very quick google search could have told you that
So GNU I’d just bloat /s
This is why Windows users don’t switch.
I used Linux for many years, I still run it for my personal projects. I’m sure it’s not everyone but damn the community is toxic as hell to newbies. If something doesn’t work it’s your fault. Don’t know what flatpak is? You’re an idiot. How do I use X? Don’t use X it sucks but also I won’t provide alternatives. Linux just works now open up terminal and type these flags to mount your external drive correctly so other programs can see it.
I love the power and customization but it’s a confusing world at times with unhelpful people.
If you’re asking how to do something, and most of the responses are “why would you want to do that?” It means you can’t do it.
But the compiler is GNU!
If you compile windows with GCC is it gnu/windows?
I thought it was arch?
I use arch/linux, btw.
As a german I also use Arsch, btw., for sitting.
