Re: Are the FSF helpful?

[Ash <ashcrow@phreaker.net>]

On Wed, 2003-01-01 at 21:08, Ciaran O'Riordan wrote:
> When talking to people I sometimes just say "GNU", unless I don't
> think they are aware of the connection between GNU and Linux.  I used
> to find it awkward to say "GNU/Linux" but now it rolls of my tongue.

I have to agree that GNU/Linux isn't hard to say. If people say
Microsoft Windows it should not be hard to say GNU/Linux, but that
doesn't mean people will. People are generally lazy and like to say as
few words as possible.

Also, a lot of people don't know how to say GNU. I have heard everything
from Gah-No to New. While it is very simple to find out how to say it
most non-technical people don't care to find out.


> The FSF contacted them a while ago.  Mandrakesoft now call the OS
> GNU/Linux in places.  RedHat said they wouldn't change because it's a
> purly commercial issue, people are more aware of "Linux".  If the Free
> Software community helped propagate the name GNU or GNU/Linux then it
> could become more viable to market such products as RedHat GNU/Linux.

While some companies will call it GNU/Linux, obviously, not all will.
Sometimes GNU/Linux distributions will have a 'GNU' or 'Free' edition of
their OS and may not want to confuse consumers.

I think everyone will agree that using the names GNU/fileutils,
GNU/bash, etc ... is a bit to far.

There also seems to be a small group of people who take offense to the
FSF trying to 'change' the name of Linux to 'GNU/Linux' and see it as a
weird advertisement scheme. I think that if the word was put out a
little softer, as you have done in your letter, people would be more
open to the change.

I do think that there should be more FSF recognition in the Unix-Like
Free OS communities since, as you said, they have made so many great
projects in such wide use. For my projects I refer to Linux as GNU/Linux
and refer to my software as 'GPL Compatible' (modified BSD license). I
also have a GNU sticker next to my BSD sticker on my car.

Ash