this post was submitted on 13 Oct 2023
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Linux

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Why Linux is portrayed as a Penguin?

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[–] logicbomb@lemmy.world 20 points 2 years ago (10 children)

I understand why Stallman wanted us to say GNU/Linux, because his organization needs money and wants its name out there, but that's simply not how things get named in the real world.

First, GNU was always a mouthful. It's always been intentionally pronounced differently from the animal. People prefer names that are not confusing and that don't sound strange.

Second, we don't do the same thing for other operating systems. If you're an illustrator, you don't say that you work on Adobe/Windows or whatever.

Third, GNU/Linux adds nothing interesting over simply "Linux". And in fact, there have been distributions where they avoid GNU tooling due. Everybody still recognizes these as Linux.

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago (5 children)

I always pronounced it guh-new as in “Gary Gnu”.

How is it supposed to be pronounced?

[–] ripe_banana@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (3 children)

I think you're right. I think some people say G-N-U.

[–] oo1@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

same one's that say "ess queue elle" when they mean squirrel probably.

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