Carlos Fenollosa — Blog

Thoughts on science and tips for researchers who use computers

Linux vs GNU/Linux

February 07, 2021 — Carlos Fenollosa

Why I do call the system Linux

I personally use the term Linux for simplicity. I know that it's the kernel name, but that's how naming works, sometimes it's convenient to use a synecdoche.

Linux is useful to identify the platform as a whole and it is recognizable to the general public. No-one is using it as demeaning, and when technical people need to be more specific they can include any complements to that term.

Why I don't call it GNU/Linux anymore

Some time ago I was an advocate for the term GNU/Linux, following the rationale of the FSF.

I still do recognize the importance of the FSF and the GNU project into making Linux what it is today. However, I think that nowadays this controversy does more harm than good to the FSF, and I encourage people to be careful when discussing it.

The FSF arguments boil down to:

  1. Many years ago, a big percentage of the codebase of GNU/Linux systems was sourced from the GNU project.
  2. The GNU project is not just a series of tools, but rather an integrated system, which was missing only the kernel. It existed before Linux.

The thing is, with every passing year Linux systems have less and less GNU components. Some vendors are even preferring software with alternative licenses such as BSD or Apache.

Should we then, using the same arguments, advocate for a name which reflects the more recent critical components, as GNU/FreeDesktop/Apache/OSI/BSD/.../Linux?

I am not trying to ridicule the FSF argument. To the contrary, my point is that, while they have been a very important contributor to the project, those specific arguments carry less weight as the project progresses. Therefore, even if this discussion could have been productive in 2001, nowadays it is either moot, or worse, plays against the GNU project's interests.

I am sure that the FSF will continue calling the system GNU/Linux and I believe they are entitled to it. But I don't think anybody should continue to proselytize about this anymore. And I also don't think that calling the system Linux in 2021 is neither morally nor technically wrong.

Tags: linux

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