The version of
GNU which is widely used today called Linux, it is basically the
GNU system, developed by the
GNU Project.
Linux is the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. It is an essential part of an
operating system and can only function as part of a complete
operating system.
Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system (GNU/Linux).
Linux distributions are actually distributions of GNU/Linux.
Dude 1: "Hey man, I'm running this new OS called Linux, works like a charm!"
Dude 2: "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. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called Linux, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the
GNU Project.
There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called Linux distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux."
Dude 1: "
What is this I don't even"
