[GNUz] GNU/Linux ...

[Timothy Musson]

Jim Cheetham, 2004-07-02 21:58:00:
> Well, I don't agree with the "GNU/Linux" position, even though I use
> Debian

My take on the naming thing is that, if it hadn't been for the name
"Debian GNU/Linux", I might not have "noticed" the GNU Project so soon,
or realised that they were important. It would've taken me longer to
understand that Free doesn't mean gratis. (That's why RMS pushes the
GNU/* convention, and - for me at least - it did make a difference.)


> even though RMS dismisses them as "non-free"
> [...]
> I do think that a "pure GPL" distribution would be more practical, and
> more in agreement with the spirit of free-libre software.

I agree. My impression of the Debian situation is that RMS feels he
can't _recommend_ a distribution that "encourages" people do something
he considers unethical (i.e. install non-Free software), since to do so
would make him a hypocrite.


> [Rik wrote:]
> > ..and I thought it was for finding its zest - which nurtured "Linux"
> > & brought us together here.

> you have zest? Enthuse us!

Recent zest:
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20040226003735733

Older zest, but well worth a read if you haven't read it already:
http://moglen.law.columbia.edu/publications/anarchism.html

("Part 1" of the older zest is mostly just a bit of fun, and not vital
to what follows. I mention that coz I found "Part 1" hard going, and the
rest pretty jolly neat.)


Tim
-- 
Timothy Musson  -  trmusson@ihug.co.nz
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~trmusson/