lilo
On Wed, 6 Mar 1996, Richard Stallman wrote:
> I think I should explain the difference between "GNU software" and
> "the GNU operating system". It would be inaccurate to say that a
> system such Slackware consists mainly of GNU software, but correct I
> believe to say it is mostly the same as the GNU system.
>
> I started the GNU project in 1984 with the aim of making a complete
> free Unix-like operating system. I wrote some parts myself--GCC,
> Emacs, GDB, and other smaller ones. Other people wrote other
> components for the GNU project. These programs are GNU software.
>
> We also added to the GNU system some programs like X Windows and parts
> of BSD which were written by other projects. These programs are not
> GNU software, but they are parts of the GNU system (and parts of other
> systems as well). When Linux was written, the GNU system was almost
> complete, but lacking a kernel. Putting the incomplete GNU system
> together with Linux realized my dream of a free operating system.
>
> In principle, there's no reason why a system based on Linux has to be
> a variant GNU system, and perhaps some of them are not. But as far as
> I know, most of them currently are.
>
> To speak of "Linux Based MIT X Windows/GNU/BSD/MIT systems" would be
> correct. But people may find it impractical. The term "Linux-based
> GNU system" is also correct, and it is practical.
>
> By using this term, we can help encourage people to work together
> instead of dividing themselves artificially into "Linux users" and
> "GNU users". This solves an important practical problem.
>
>
>