[ILUG] bad ram? get the bad ram module...

[kevin lyda]

On Wed, Feb 28, 2001 at 11:06:23AM -0800, Nick Moffitt wrote:
> 	It does not, but it shows what a small role Linux plays in the
> creation of a free unix.  It also shows that what most people call
> "Linux" turns out to exist in the BSDs as well.
> 
> 	I can't count the number of people who came up to me at
> installfests and asked "So, is this what Linux looks like?".  I had to
> point out that the screen I was in front of ran FreeBSD, and that the
> screen next to me, while identical, was the one running Debian.

yes, this is all true, but the fact is that the unix design encourages
lots of "small roles."  all of these things have varying levels of
importance, but on the whole *each* one needs to be there and do it's job.
the oo world drools over this kind of thing - albeit with an entirely
different vocabulary.

attaching importance to me seems like a very subjective exercise
masquerading as facts.  the kernel for instance is incredibly important
to a person working on embedded systems or on device drivers.  the kernel
isn't very important for a x app developer - and in fact that's a design
goal of the kernel.  it's goal is to present the same interface no matter
what the hardware.

every part of a linux, unix or *bsd system plays a role, from the
kernels to the various bsd, gnu, etc utils, to the x servers to the
larger applications.  and big or small, they're all important.

in a way i think rms has confused the issue.  but when he pushes for
gnu/linux he really just seems to want credit - the average "linux"
system is lot's of things in addition to the kernel.  and not really for
him or his work, but the *idea* of free software.  but since most people
(reasonably i think) don't tend to think of giving credit to abstract
ideas, his "message" gets lost.  that and his low skill ability in
hacking wetware.

anyway, random thoughts after my bizzare commute home today.

kevin

-- 
kevin at suberic.net        i...  i have a dream.  and that dream is:
fork()'ed on 37058400    use DIY::Tiler;
meatspace place: orbit   my($t) = new DIY::Tiler;
                         $t->tile(-room => "en-suite", -style => "stone");