The following is Jim Ready's answer to the question, “What is Linux?” . . .

> What do *YOU* think Linux is?

In increasing order of abstraction . . .

(1) Linux is the kernel released by Linus with his trademark.

(2) Linux is also any number of distributions of GPL/LGPL software including the Linux kernel and GNU libraries and commands.

(3) Linux certainly is NOT any distribution that includes proprietary closed source components.

> Is Linux a complete operating system?

Formally no, but in common parlance, yes.

> Is Linux “the linux kernel”? (Richard Stallman seems to think so!

Formally, yes.

> Is Linux a technology?

Yes, but not just a technology.

> Is Linux defined by its APIs? ABIs? … all of the above?

No, Linux is the kernel source released by Linus. EL/IX is not Linux. eCOS is not Linux. LynxOS is not Linux.

> Is uClinux, an MMU-less version based on linux kernel v2.0, truly Linux?

uCLinux is a Linux variant.

> If a proprietary RTOS like LynxOS or QNX attains plug-and-play binary
> (API/ABI) compatibility with Linux apps, is it Linux? Or, would you
> call that “Linux compatible”? Or, “Linux-like”?

Certainly NOT Linux, not really likely to be really compatible. They are just QNX or Lynx. Linux involves a whole lot more than some form of compatibility, starting with its Open Source base and the Linux community worldwide.

 
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