this post was submitted on 08 Mar 2026
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Yup, it's very clear there wasn't a single person who understands about OSs in any of the proceedings for this law.
Language is something you can teach, but it isn’t really something that’s easily controlled. The term “OS” already means something like ‘a space that lets you interact with and manage apps and services on a personal computing device’ for most people. This is the case because of how its used with Apple, Google, Windows, Steam, Meta, etc…
So the literal operating systems of other kinds of equipment, such as a vending machine, might eventually end up with its own moniker if the distinction becomes necessary.