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Date:      Fri, 1 May 1998 13:27:24 +0930
From:      Greg Lehey <grog@lemis.com>
To:        Frank Pawlak <fpawlak@execpc.com>
Cc:        Yves.holzgen@mba.be, freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG, FreeBSD-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: FreeBSD versus LINUX
Message-ID:  <19980501132724.P26691@freebie.lemis.com>
In-Reply-To: <199805010330.WAA00565@darkstar.connect.com>; from Frank Pawlak on Thu, Apr 30, 1998 at 10:30:41PM -0500
References:  <19980501114959.A26691@freebie.lemis.com> <199805010330.WAA00565@darkstar.connect.com>

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On Thu, 30 April 1998 at 22:30:41 -0500, Frank Pawlak wrote:
> On  1 May, Greg Lehey wrote:
>> On Wed, 29 April 1998 at 23:40:10 -0500, Frank Pawlak wrote:
>>> On 29 Apr, John Kelly wrote:
>>>> On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 19:10:58 +0200, "Yves Holzgen"
>>>> <yves.holzgen@mba.be> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> We already use LINUX system. What are the main difference between Linux and
>>>>> freeBSD ?
>>>>
>>>
>>> ...
>>>
>>> Linux is a very young clone of SYSV UNIX.  It is not really an
>>> operating system, just a kernel.  The libs and other components that
>>> make up an operating system come from many developers with out a central
>>> centrol mechanism to ensure the quality of the release.  It just the
>>> kernel that is controlled by one person.
>>
>> I don't know if I like making this distinction.  Lots of the FreeBSD
>> supporting software is not under the direct control of the core team
>> either (in fact, it's the same software used by Linux).  And the term
>> "not an operating system" is misleading.  Many people, including
>> myself, consider the kernel to be the operating system, and the rest
>> just to be support.
>>
>> Having said that, it is correct that you can't just go out and get
>> "the latest version of Linux".  You have a choice of a large number of
>> different packagings.
>
> I am not an expert on operating systems, and not technically qualified
> to refute whether or not the Linux kernel is in fact an operating
> system.  However, I believe I have seen posts to the mail lists by
> persons knowledgeable in these things that say that the Linux kernel is
> not an OS.

Sure, I understand.  Read what I said: I don't like making this
distinction.  It doesn't mean it's not valid, but I don't think it's
useful.  I certainly wasn't picking on you: many people (including
John Dyson, for example) agree with you.

Greg

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