Richard Stallman - Daily use of GNU/Linux

[BrandurJustinussen]

@Kelseyshutup I wouldn't call it either. The ideas of sharing, and freedom, has existed far longer than the concepts of political ideologies. Besides, the idea for gnu, and the gpl, came from people living in a capitalist society.

[guymerritt]

As Stallman says, the move to an open source platform - at one time - meant giving up a lot of comfort and involved a substantial sacrifice in terms of software limitations and the learning curve. Now - unless you desire to goose step to the drum of some corporate giant - there's very little reason not to explore open source operating platforms and software.  An a big thank you to Richard Stallman and the other pioneers of open source.

[Ograws]

This is what I should tell my friend who is having trouble with Windows

[c0okiemon5ter]

wise words, wise man. 

[001HK0]

@bob8984 if abandoned projects means lack of dictatorial control by an anonymous person who calls people retarded as an insult, then yes, I'm fine with abandoned projects. If they're no good, they'll die out. The good projects are in it for the long haul and sometimes you get a nice little perl from the bed of sand that is the open source world of "vaporware"

[theif519]

You don't have to be smart to use Linux, you just need dedication.

[bob8984]

I say more useful software and less distrobutions of linux! Did you know there are so many different distrobutions of linux that even skinheads have not only one but TWO of their own white-power/racist linux distros! (if you don't belive me google apartheid linux)

I say that if white supremacists have 2 linux distrobutions we have gone too far. At some point we have to allocate man-hours to more meaningful tasks.

[001HK0]

@bob8984 Ok, how about you go to those white supremacists, tell them "I think you wasted your time, now I'm in charge and my first decree as great emperor of all things free time is to MAKE you develop what I want developed... also, I hate racism." gl hf dude (note: I don't endorse racism or bob8984)

[bob8984]

@001HK0 i think your retarded... i dont care what white supremacists develop. this isn't even about them, its about linux. its obvious that you think having the most vaporware and abondoned projects is good.

[WaterPocket]

@bob8984 right, I guess the skinheads made those distros themselves ... thats one of the ugly sides of freedom, but I can live with that.. :)

[fastdude7]

think different?

[chica476]

Freedom, in the hands of only one person who claims as such, will ultimately cause tyranny.

[cataclysm]

install gentoo

[mattiasvillani]

GliNUx

[numba1netsfan]

I refuse to call it GNU/Linux GNU did not write the linux kernel and thats that. If I use a Dewalt Powersaw to help build my house should I say that my house is also Dewalt's?

[Fridelain]

@numba1netsfan If you builded you house with oak wood and pine wood, would you say that your house is made of oak or of oak and pine?

[numba1netsfan]

@Fridelain you mean built and oak and pine wood are materials not tools so your analogy is moot. GNU did not create the linux kernel. Linus Torvalds did.

[youmakeitwhatitis]

@numba1netsfan That's just intentionally misunderstanding his bad grammar. Revised: When a house is made of oak and pine, do you call it an oak house, or an oak/pine house?

[Ograws]

I'm starting to use GNU/Linux and it is such a great experience! My favorite feature is Compiz but most of all all the good FREE software that you can get on it.

[Ruttenpapa]

I like Richard he is a genius.

[mexaviwer]

GNU/LINUX isnt hard, isnt different,

JUST IS GNU/LINUX!!

[yeclix]

According to Tenenbaum we call "operating system" the code that runs in "kernel mode". GNU software doesn't run on kernel mode, it communicates with the kernel through system calls. Therefore its correct to call the operating system "Linux" and not "GNU/Linux".

[anujmorex]

@yeclix Fuck Tenenbaum. He never made a proper kernel that could be used in modern PCs. He still thinks monolithic kernels are the way to go. Asshole.

[yeclix]

@anujmorex Besides being impolite you are an ignorant. Tanenbaum says in his book that monolithic kernels are unstable, complex and something to avoid (Linux is monolithic by the way). Tanenbaum's Minix 3 uses a microkernel aproach with a extremely small kernel (only 6,000 lines of code) wich runs the device drivers as user processes outside the kernel space, gaining stability.

[anujmorex]

@yeclix Mistake noted. I was confused between the two, but just didn't bother to cross verify. I, as a FY student have read that/those statement(s) and its all weird when you compare it with Linux (Tanenbaum - Linus debate)

About 'just 6k lines of code', Linux kernel in 1992 (0.96) had around 20k lines of code and 1k true users. Minix with its 6k lines of code, had none (In fact, 0.01 had 10k lines. Not a huge difference WRT Minix's 6k)

[yeclix]

@anujmorex Minix is small because is an educational OS, it has to be small so the student can read and manipulate the code. Im not comparing Minix and Linux because they have different purposes and i'm not saying Minix is better because its smaller. I'm talking about how wrong is Stallman and how he introduces confussion in this matter. That's all.

[anujmorex]

@yeclix So you say no one should acknowledge the work on GNU? Compared to lines of code, a standard distro contains around 8% of written code in the form of the kernel and 18% of written code is contributed by GNU.

Check the numbers. They were that way around 2yrs ago. Not sure.

[maw88ify]

@anujmorex No it's annoying , and no one but hard cord geeks care ...

The true is Microsoft hands 20000 lines of code to Linux community that was added to the Linux Kernel ...

Next thing you know Windows users will ask we call it GNU/Microsoft/Linux

Do you see how annoying that is ?

I mean hell code and ideas in Mac came from NextStep OS, BSD , mkLinux , and BSD came from Unix ...

[anujmorex]

@maw88ify Many utilities and the kernel are built and compiled using GNU softwares like gcc. Linux kernel would have been well without the 20k odd lines Microshaft contributed. Or even softwares like Mono.

But I have never seen a (what you call) Linux distro without GNU utilities installed (At least the ones like gcc). Not even the minimalist (what you call) Linux distros like Slitaz and Cruchbang.

[maw88ify]

@anujmorex That's true , but who calls things the same name as the tools used to build them ?

Before the Printing press people had to write books by hand, but no one calls them "printing press/books" they just call them BOOKS...

Just like Mac, BSD ,and Windows are not "something/OS/kernel"

The truth is Richard Stallman was mad that Linus Torvalds was getting all of the attention so he is trying to forces people to call it GNU/Linux. It's like saying "look at me !!!" it's annoying.

[anujmorex]

@maw88ify You cannot compare books with software. Printing press and books are generic terms. We are talking about two foundations (with two egotistic heads) competing for one name.

The problem is Macs, BSDs and Windows is they are made by a single organization (mostly). Which is why those guys never get into these kind of crappy debates.

Probably he is trying to just gain attention, but that also might be the reason people know about GNU at the first place. (Like "Oh, GNU/Linux? What's GNU?")

[maw88ify]

@anujmorex The word "Linux" has became a generic terms to most people . If I say Linux most people that are not nerds will think of a DeskTop OS like Ubuntu , and not Linux kernel , and not the GNU C compiler used to make Linux. Most people have no clue what Linux is, and most people don't care...

Torvalds frustrated by the licensing of MINIX limiting, and he began to work on his own operating system which eventually became the Linux kernel . Now who even knows anything about MINIX any more?

[anujmorex]

@maw88ify That is exactly the kind of thinking that Stallman is trying to change. Many people following a certain trend doesn't mean that trend is right (Many people use IE9 and listen to Lady Gaga).

Many people don't care. And that is the worst part. What would happen if people 'did not care' about the first post by Linus when he announced the kernel? People not caring is the worst thing that could ever happen to Linux or any open/free project.

I don't know why you're mentioning Minix.

[maw88ify]

@anujmorex With out MINIX than Linux may have never been born... Lets call it Unix-like/MINIX inspired/GNU/Linux ?

All people care about is that the OS works with all the hardware / software they use ,and has good performance. Linux still lacks in all the above. Linux has no almost no professional 2D Animation software so maybe instead of worry what people call it, and seeing how many GUI's and Linux distribution we can make.Maybe we should instead make software for Linux that people want ?

[LTS1287]

@maw88ify: Not everyone needs 2d animation software. However, Blender is used for 3-d modeling. Linux is also used for rendering. There is an open equivalent to almost every piece of proprietary software out there. Maybe you meant to say that you'd like to see certain niche software for Linux. As a programmer, I've got all I've need with Linux. My brother is a musician and he has more than enough with Linux. As for the naming, I agree that it is a petty argument.

[maw88ify]

@LTS1287 True not everyone need 2d animation software , but it proves my point Linux does not have an equivalent all proprietary software. Thus this mean if it wants to compete with Windows, and Mac than the Linux programmer need to get off their asses and do something about instead of wasting time make 700 new Linux distribution. All they are do is wasting time it makes me mad because I want Linux to fit every ones needs but it doesn't be cause it doesn't have as good of software as Windows .

[LTS1287]

@maw88ify: Have you ever written a program before? Because if you had then you'd know that writing a program like Photoshop or Maya takes an entire team of programmers. Programmers don't just pull software out of thin air. You have to realize that it takes a lot of time and money. Most programmers write software for Linux and don't get paid. They do it for the love of opensource software. There's also the matter of companies like Adobe not wanting their programs to be opensource.

[LTS1287]

@maw88ify continued..

Many Linux users prefer to use open source software. I've heard people complain that they want a certain piece of software on Linux but no one realizes the amount of work, money, and politics that are involved. The market drives everything. With Linux's tiny market share do you really think that Adobe is going to be motivated to port photoshop to Linux? There's little for them to make in terms of profit so it won't happen. You're asking a lot from a relatively small group..

[Superfreaxx]

@maw88ify

MINIX hardly had anything to do with it. Linus had to use MINIX in 91 because it was the closest thing to a free operating system at that time. He made Linux because he was sick of MINIX's restrictions and waiting for HURD and 386BSD to come out. Had MINIX never been released, HURD probably would probably be where Linux is now. As it turned out, Linux came first and was released under the GPL.

[Superfreaxx]

@Superfreaxx

When that happened the FSF decided to port the software that already been developed for GNU to Linux. Linux was just standing where HURD would've been if it came out earlier and completed the GNU Operating System. Again MINIXs contributions were insignificant in making Linux a working Operating System. GNUs contribution however was.

[whoknows6806]

I love you stallman!

[msa1985]

why does he still call it gnu/linux? if its not gnu, then its not gnu/linux, its gentoo or red hat or slack or any other distro.

[egarrulo]

because every linux distribution is based on gnu tools, that's why. linux wouldn't exist without gnu.

[roflschofel]

@msa1985  Indeed it is gentoo. People don't refer to it as GNU/gentoo or anything like that. It is just a distribution.

[anujmorex]

@msa1985 Asshole, those are just distributions.

[bboybram]

Linus really gets to much credit as this guy would be able to make an GNU os whitout him. I think Linus would also be able to start his ,but would it grow as big as GNU

[anonymousassasin1]

One word my friend . SUPERIORITY

[originalanthraxtony]

amen bro

[sirloin3000]

I'd just like to interject for a moment.

What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.

Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it.

[slick07]

copypasta

although I agree with it, it's still copypasta

[yeclix]

@sirloin3000 Linux is a kernel, therefore Linux is an operating system. If your criterion to delimitate an operating system is the kernel plus software to obtain something "fully usable" then you could call it KDE/MPlayer/Firefox/Applicatio­n1...ApplicationN/GNU/Linux

[maw88ify]

@sirloin3000 I will alway just call it LINUX , because it annoys me calling it GNU/Linux .

If I use Ubuntu Linux you nut jobs would want me to call it Ubuntu GNU/Linux ? I know GNU is part of it, but it doesn't me I should have to say it. When I say Linux I mean all Linux distributions, and NOT the Linux kernel. and I don't need to be told Linux is a kernel. NO CRAP I already know that, but it is widely excepted by average Linux users to use the word Linux to refer to ALL Linux distributions .

[LTS1287]

@sirloin3000:

I'd just like to interject for a moment.

What you're referring to as Subway, is in fact, a sandwich, or as I've recently taken to calling it, bread++. Subway is not a sandwich unto itself, but rather the finished product of a fully functioning sandwich made delicious by lunch meat, cheese and various sauces comprising a full sandiwch as defined by Subway.

Many diners eat a modified version of the sandwich every day, without realizing it.

[Danquebec01]

But... Your games are proprietary softwares? So your PC still have proprietary softwares on it.

Me, I mostly have free softwares on my main computer, but some are proprietary for some reason. I like the free ideology, but I can't actually have all my computer free. The time will come, but now, it's a transition from proprietary to free.

[NotASocialCommentary]

Gimli! Is that you?! My, your beard has grown thick!

[wwood14]

this stuff sounds interesting but I'm not a technical person. I would not have a clue how to change my operating system or other software..

[SteveSlaughter1]

I switched to Ubuntu recently, and so far I'm LOVING it! Sometimes when I'm typing in a text box, the cursor moves around the field (or jumps to another text box on the screen), or text that I copied into memory before gets randomly pasted into the field. That kinda bugs me. The reason why I switched over to Linux is because I'd like start programming in my spare time, and the open-source software community works great for hobbyists.

[pixiemotion]

On some GNU/Linux systems, clicking both mouse buttons at once will paste text, that might be what you're experiencing... (I've never known cursors to jump around fields though, which application is this?)

[SteveSlaughter1]

This bug occurs in all applications. It appears to be an OS problem.

[pixiemotion]

Google for

ubuntu cursor jumps fields

it might give som answers ;-)

[SteveSlaughter1]

I phrased searched for "ubuntu cursor jumps fields" and found a related discussion. Tried disabling the touch pad, and apparently this has solved the problem. Thanks :-)

[slutmobilio]

It's LINUX not GNU/LINUX. i wish this retard would focus his energy on improving the software instead of naming it.

[turturel]

Stick to winblows, my friend, where the kernel and apps are writen by the same team and bear the same name.

[jimmybrite]

Retard? That ain't his fucking job.

[purplemutantas]

@slutmobilio Technically Linux is the kernel. Most of the OS is GNU. The Android OS uses the Linux kernel. But I imagine that it's quite different from GNU/Linux.

Of course in general usage I say Linux. Because most people would be confused if I said "GNU slash Linux"

[IAINMAN96]

Hello! I wanna move from win32 to an os with dosbox/dosemu or a Pascal compiler, preferably

FPC... But I canh't understand that copileing progs stuff... Can anybody help me?

[gomemdesoto]

"Hello! I wanna move from win32 to an os with dosbox/dosemu or a Pascal compiler, preferably

FPC... But I canh't understand that copileing progs stuff... Can anybody help me?"

So you want to move to an OS which has a Pascal compiler, and you don't understand about compiling programmes

... erm..  what good would a Pascal compiler be to you then?

[blorbs]

i just love this guy... so much truth with so little time (and words)

[woofwoofbone]

I tried linux and i usewindows now.

I dont get it/ i could not get my wireless card to work with linux.

[heminder]

i'm guessing it's a Broadcom card. they're asses when it comes to drivers. good luck with it :P

[powerman2442]

Yeah, I had a Broadcom card, but I got it working with a little bit of blood and sweat. Ahh, jk I just did some research.

[powerman2442]

Get on a support forum and they should have you up and running in no time.

[Dejaiin]

A lot of GNU/Linux is just getting used to the differences. I wish I grew up on a *nix box but I didn't I had to put in the effort to get to know my system. I too had trouble with my wireless cards but now I know more about the systems I find it quite easy to get almost all my hardware working. I run new and old hardware and so far I have gotten everything I own to work. Sometimes full functionality requires proprietary binaries but most of the time there are suitable free or open source altern.

[purplemutantas]

@woofwoofbone My broadcom card worked fine on Ubuntu. I never had any major problems getting wifi to work under GNU/Linux. You should give it another try. I HIGHLY recommend Ubuntu. Although I would go with the previous version 9.04"Jaunty Jackalope". People have had some problems with the current version 9.10 "Karmic Koala".

[szlamx]

One of the reasons GNU/Linux doesn't run all the games you'd like is exactly the type of ideology RS is displaying.If it were just another clone of Unix, people would be more willing to port apps and games to it. But since there is a massive ideology behind it, people who want to make money on it (This guy from ID bought himself a ferrari by selling a game - now he wants to go to space). RS despite his undisputed genius, is often bordering on some sort of communist ideology (voluntarism anyone?)

[droleniacoc]

Yeh, you could sortof call open source 'computer communism', but the big diffrence is that open source works, but political communism sounds nice comming out the mouth of some godsendt preacher, but never really works in practice (btw, im a hard core big-shot capitalist, so dont go calling me a commie)

[szlamx]

Communism was no voluntary. Open source is.

[kmav81]

gpl is not voluntary

[szlamx]

what do you mean exactly

[kmav81]

if you want to use gpl library in your program you don't have much licensing choices

[szlamx]

Yeah... And if I want to drink a bottle of Okocim, or Heineken i also have little choice of how much hops or malt there is. If you choose a license you have to adhere to it. Voluntary is when you don't have to choose a particular license for software you are developing. And even you can make your own.

[kmav81]

ok this is too much for too little but i must say that communism too was voluntary if you were in the west

[purplemutantas]

@szlamx Doom 3 runs natively on linux. Id has also released source code for old games. The quake 3 arena code was released under the GLP. So Id software isn't the best example to use.

[orgthingy]

true.. linux isnt hard, it's just "different"

[vaper192]

@orgthingy gnu + linux linux is just a kernel

[UbuntuLee]

How the hell am I supposed to get freedom when youtube uses flash :'( I want to use a completely free operating system with completely free programs but I simply can't :'(

[pjjatdarkbox]

install gnash :)

[UbuntuLee]

Not stable, doesn't work. :(

[pixiemotion]

it's getting there.. but yeah, really hate how flash has become a "standard" (and Nokia pushed for removing OGG from html5, the bastards!)

[Zindx]

well my brother have meet him today like 20 minutes ago And its nice

[4izm0v]

I use GNU/Linux, I've just recently switched from Windows. GNU/Linux isn't hard, it is just different.

[bcrfox]

It has a steeper learning curve, but once you understand it, it's much more powerful.

[DarbySniper]

I use it.

[zvoase]

I have found, since switching to Linux, that MS Windows seems to be patronisingly user-friendly. I would never go back to using it again.

[romanoskar]

I use nothing but linux... it doesn't require much. Once you changed it requires a lot of self control to not pull every last hear out of your head when you use a Windows PC again.

[eddiervn]

Try to install a brand new video card like ATI 3870 or NVIDIA 8800 and see what happens.

Linux is not compatible with new hardware.

Because all the drivers come frome some obscure community kernel developers,not from the manufacturer.Its totally garbage

[romanoskar]

Actually both nvidia and ati make native linux drivers. Just go to the driver page.

[eddiervn]

Whats the point to install ATI3870 on Linux anyway?

This card was designed for DX10 and VISTA can get the best of it, so you can run "Crysis" on all the specs maxed up in Crossfire configuration.

Can that junk Linux do that?

Freedom to use junk soft.

[Slorginvader]

Well linux runs crysis with the minimum settings...

But it runs COD4 Perfectly, just as counterstrike World of Warcraft, Gta San andreas and many more... With wine ("Windows Emulator" (not really an emulator but sort of))

[Veggizz]

WINE is actually a recursive acronym for WINE Is Not an Emulator. Instead, WINE acts as a Windows API layer. ;)

[Slorginvader]

I know, that's why it is between quotation marks..

[gomemdesoto]

"Whats the point to install ATI3870 on Linux anyway?

This card was designed for DX10 and VISTA can get the best of it,"

Some of us use Windows and Linux in a dual boot environment. Windows for gaming and Linux for everything else.

[Danquebec01]

Yeah, I think that to keep Windows for gaming is a good idea, but there are cool games on Linux too.

[purplemutantas]

@gomemdesoto I run XP on a virtual machine so I can watch movies on netflix. That's the only thing I ever use windows for anymore. For everything else I use Ubuntu.

[MrSquishles]

@purplemutantas

is that becuase it uses flash becuase adobe has an alpha release of flash 10 for 64 and 32 bit linux or is it another codec?

[purplemutantas]

@MrSquishles Netflix uses Microsoft Silverlight. There is an open source version of Silverlight called moonlight, but it's still not capable of playing netflix. I hope this gets fixed soon. I would probably watch netflix more often if I didn't have to boot up another OS. Flash has worked on linux for a while now. I wish netflix used flash

[VividHazE]

I use GNU/Linux as well and as it may lack certain features it has many more that better Windows and make what you want to accomplish easier in the long run. The gap between Windows and Linux is closing every day.

[gat6000]

yeah, I curenty run windows and Debian, I think that debian is pretty competetive with windows, and yes; the lack of unuseful features (such as games) is somehow useful to learning new things.

[pixiemotion]

hah, just don't start up nethack, you'll stay in that game forever

[DusteDdekay]

I use GNU/Linux, and hes right, its not because its harder to use..