this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2024
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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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[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I’ll be that guy pointing out at semantics - “open-source”, in the widely used OSI definition of the term is actually equal to free (as in freedom). It’s why open-source advocates go so hard at saying “this is not open-source” when companies just dumps their source code somewhere and dubs themselves open-source for it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The difference between "open source" and "free software" isn't a definitional one, but a philosophical one.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Fair enough. I know the FSF likes to make the distinction.