[wellylug] Forking Linux.

[David Antliff]

On Wed, 10 Nov 2004, Pete Black wrote:

> Linux is an OS kernel. Simple as that.
>
> Solaris with X.org/GNOME etc. might as well be called GNU/Solaris, in the 
> same way as a more strictly 'correct' term for what we know as 'Linux' would 
> be GNU/Linux.

Begging the question we all know that Linux is the kernel and GNU/Linux is 
a possible name for the operating system, I don't think it's as simple as 
that. I *know* what the intention of the naming is, that's not what bugs 
me. Trademark law states (I believe) that you only have to (consistently 
and openly) use a term to describe a product and the trademark is legally 
enforceable - no registration required (but that is an option). If almost 
everyone uses the term "Linux" to refer to the entire package, then it 
might as well be called Linux. RMS would prefer otherwise of course.

I would have included the previous reply but your thoughtless top-posting 
messed it up completely so I left it out for tidiness. Anyway, the 
previous reply brings up an excellent point - if we want to be 
precise, what DO we call all this stuff? I could call myself a "fluxbox 
user"... but I used to use Fluxbox compiled under Cygwin on Windows2000 - 
so that's not sufficient. To be precise, one needs to specify everything 
one uses. So I hereby propose the following. When someone asks you 'what 
do you use on your computer?' simply reply:

For Debian users (and distros built around debian)

   `dpkg -l`

For Gentoo users

   `emerge info | grep USE`

(or whatever is relevant for your one true distribution).

Anyone familiar with the Geek Code? How about an OpenSource geek code?

Distibutions (followed by version numbers etc):
  F    - Fedora
  G    - Gentoo
  D    - Debian
  ...

Kernels:
  L22  - Linux 2.2
  L24  - Linux 2.4
  L26  - Linux 2.6
  OB   - OpenBSD
  NB   - NetBSD
  ...

Kernel patch sets:
  v    - vanilla
  +RH  - redhat patches
  +GH  - gentoo hardened sources
  +SE  - SELinux patches
  ...
  (I don't know of other kernel patches)

Desktop
  C    - console
  XF4  - XFree4
  XO   - XOrg

Window Manager / Desktop Environment
  +G   - Gnome
  +K   - KDE
  +FL  - Fluxbox
  ...


So I'd be something like 'G L26v XO+FL MF1.0 | D L24v C'

Needs work - that'd be fun...


-- 
David.