There are many computer users using a changed GNU system (18k bytes), but they didn't realize it. After a series of events, the GNU version now is now known is often referred to as "Linux", but many users don't understand the GNU project associated with it.
Linux does exist; it is a kernel, many people are using it. But you can't use only the kernel itself. The kernel is only useful as a part of the entire system. Linux is combined with the GNU operating system: The system itself is GNU, working with Linux as a kernel.
Many users don't fully understand the difference between the Linux kernel and the entire system called "Linux". And don't use this name to use this name, you can't help it.
Programmers generally know Linux is a kernel. But because they also heard that the entire system is called "Linux", they will imagine history according to the name. For example, many people think that when Linus Torvalds complete the kernel, his friends look for other free software, and all processes that can be assembled into a Unix system are ready.
Their findings are not coincident - this is the GNU system. The available free software is equipped with a complete system because the GNU project since 1984 has been working hard. The GNU Declaration (31k bytes) has long set up a target similar to Unix freely system, called GNU. The original announcement of GNU project also taught the original outline of the GNU system. This system is almost completed when Linux is written.
Most free software projects are for specific work development specific procedures. For example, Linus Torvalds prepares a UNIX (Linux); Donald Knuth writes a text formatting tool (Tex); Bob Scheifler develops a window system (X Window System). It has contributed to the procedures prepared by this project, and these contributions are very natural.
What is the conclusion we will get in this way to measure the contribution to the GNU project? A CD-ROM provider is now currently in their "Linux distribution", GNU software accounts for about 28% of all source code, and this also includes some key components, no parts, system can not work. Linux itself accounts for approximately 3%. So if you want to choose a name according to the author of the program, the most suitable option is "GNU".
But we don't think this is a suitable method for solving problems. The GNU project is not before, and it is not an engineering that develops a package. It is not a project that develops a C compiler, even though we do. It is not an engineering that develops a text editor, even though we have done it. The goal of the GNU project is to develop a fully free-free system: GNU.
Many people have made significant contributions to free software in the system, and they should have honorable. But the GNU is a system rather than a combination of some utility. The initial goal of the GNU project is to do a complete system. We used to make a list of procedures required for completing a complete system, and we have systematically looking, writing these programs, and looking for each program on the list of others. We have written key but very boring components such as assembly language and connectors because this is required. In addition to programming tools, a complete system requires more things, Bourne Again Shell Programs, PostScript Interpreter GhostScript, and GNU C libraries are also important.
By the early 1990s, we used things except for the kernel to form a system (we also work in the kernel) called GNU Hurd, running on MACH). Developing this kernel is much more difficult than we imagined, we are still working here now. Fortunately, you don't have to wait, because Linux has successfully developed. When Linus Torvalds wrote Linux, he fill an important blank. People can make Linux and GNU systems a complete free system: Linux-based GNU system (or simply referred to as a GNU / Linux system).
It is easy to combine them together, but this is not a simple job. The GNU C library (GLIBC) requires a lot of modifications. It is also a big job in integrated into a complete distribution system. It needs to be positioned on how to install and start the system - this problem is still perfection now, because we have not yet seized the point. Those who have developed different issuations have made great contributions.
In addition to the GNU, there is an independent engineering to develop a free similar UNIX operating system. This system is called BSD, which is developed by UC Berkeley. Under the encouragement of GNU project, BSD developers began to develop their own free software development, and often encouraged by GNU people, but their actual work and GNU is not very different. Today, the BSD system uses some GNU software, just like the software of the BSD software like a different version of the GNU system. In general, they are different systems that are independently developed. A free operating system today is a derived version of the GNU or BSD system.
The GNU project supports the GNU / Linux system, just like supporting the GNU system - including the support of funds. We provide funding for rewriting the GNU C library related to Linux, so that they can now be well integrated until the latest version of GNU / Linux is still using this library without modification. We also provide funding for the development of early Debian GNU / Linux.
Today, most of our work is done on Linux-based GNU systems, and we hope you are also true. But please don't be embarrassed to use Linux to confuse the public. Linux is one of the key components of the kernel. The system should be more or less actually a GNU system, plus Linux. When you discuss this combined system, use "GNU / Linux".
If you want to link for GNU / Linux, this page and http://www.gnu.org/gnu/the-gnu-project.html is a good choice. If you want to link for Linux (kernel), http://www.kernel.org/ is a good URL.
