GNU+Linux Naming Controversy Similar to Big Ben?
Nathan Baum posted this excellent metaphor for the practical sense-making reason for calling the GNU+Linux system “GNU+Linux” or “GNU/Linux” instead of “Linux,” which is common but incorrect, to a recent discussion of mine over the GNU+Linux Naming Controversy on the Dorset Linux User Group mailing list.
Well, whether I like it or not, “Linux” is the name associated with the operating system in the public eye (to the extent that the public have heard of either Linux or GNU). But that doesn’t mean, IMO, that it must always be called “Linux” in formal contexts. What most people think of as “Big Ben” is actually only one of the bells in “The Clock Tower”. This is quite similar to the situation with GNU/Linux. The clock tower is, in the public’s mind, named after an important part of the clock tower. As with GNU/Linux, it would actually be possible to replace Big Ben with another bell and although it might sound a little different, it would still keep the time perfectly well. In fact, the original Big Ben was discarded because it was broken; this mirrors the situation with Hurd, except, of course, that people are still fixing up Hurd. It’s not considered bad form to informally refer to The Clock Tower as Big Ben. When speaking technically about the Palace of Westminster (which, I suppose, one might analogise with the mass of software built around the GNU/Linux operating system), however, it would usually be better to call it The Clock Tower. Out of a formal context, The Clock Tower might be vague and confusing. I typically refer to it as The Big Ben Tower, if I feel a lone Big Ben is inappropriate. This clarifies to those aware of the difference that I’m refering to the tower, and those who only know the tower as Big Ben will still know what I’m talking about: this practice is similar to refering to GNU, even in contexts where the kernel is unimportant, as GNU/Linux.
I also wrote a reply to John Cooper on this issue:
Without Linus Torvalds there wouldn’t be the current operating system.I found an interesting quote on this topic: “[Linus Torvalds is] basically a very lazy person who likes to get credit for things other people actually do.” - Linus Torvalds Are you aware of the Bitkeeper fiasco? Details are in an ICPUG article and a Wikipedia article on Bitkeeper This event demonstrated that Linus Torvalds is not interested in using Free Software to write the kernel, because he himself it not particularly interested in version control. He is interested in kernels, and prefers a Free Software kernel, but only values software freedom under limited circumstances where it affects him personally. Therefore “[The Open Source Movement] would never have developed a free operating system like GNU/Linux, because they don’t particularly feel it is important to have one. The reason GNU/Linux exists as a free operating system is because of people who do care.” - Richard Stallman The GNU Project is a determined, sustained effort to create a free operating system. That is the only reason you had, have and will continue to have a complete GNU/Linux system.
The GNU+Linux Naming Controversy Similar to Big Ben? by David Crossland, except the quotations and unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
November 29, 2006 | Filed Under Personal Thoughts
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