On 10/11/06, Devdas Bhagat devdas@dvb.homelinux.org wrote:
To be very precise, there isn't a Free alternative to gcc yet. If the GNU folks will continue with the whole GNU/Linux thing, I might just get bugged enough to write a BSD licensed compiler.
Thats exactly the kind of aggressive response FSF has been getting from "Linux" fans. They simply say: "Go write your own kernel!!" We are not asking you to write your own compiler - you are free to do so if you want to. But if you are doing it on account of animosity toward GNU then it is only fair that you should NOT use any GNU tools to bootstrap your project. Best of luck!!! :-P
But my whole point is that GNU/Linux is pretty much useless to me. Regardless of how essential gcc is. If the GNU project gets credits, everyone else deserves the same amount of time.
Maybe it is useless to *YOU* ... that's your personal opinion and your free to have one. Is the "GNU/Linux" system useless or is the name "GNU/Linux" useless? IMO the name is not supposed to have any utility besides clear and unambiguous denotation. So Linux == kernel, GNU == indispensible(but kernel-less) project [excuse HURD] GNU/Linux == combination of the two where you may[/may not] install a multitude of useful but dispensible optional software packages (X/Apache/Mozilla/...)
Note that we are not yet claiming GNU/Linux to be a complete full-fledged usable system - but it is the foundation on which we build our grand edifice. So the biggest sinners and the cause of your confusion are the distros that fudge all components to give a "Linux distribution". What they are actually serving a combination of various FLosS components based on the GNU+Linux core ... as against a GNU+Hurd or GNU+BSD or Linux+BSD-userland core.
Theoretically each component is replacable ... but historically the GNU-component has contributed more(understatement) towards development of other parts than they have toward GNU simply because GNU was created as the enabler on which we can further free software development. So can we atleast agree that GNU is the first amongst equals and give it it's rightful place? That would be a good start.
Dispensing with the GPL? Definitely. Dispensing with the GNU project? Right now, other than the compiler, what else do you need to get a full BSD userland?
You are right there ... you need nothing else. So if you do actually use Linux kernel with the BSD userland on your computer you are free to call it Linux or whatever else you choose ... we have absolutely no objections. Infact we'll graciously allow you to use [only] our compiler and still continue to call in Linux :-)
. farazs