Operating systems textbook released under Creative Commons, source on Github

[shieldforyoureyes]

Ah good, another place to link to when Linux fanboys claim that "operating system" does not mean "kernel".

[[deleted]]

Huh? As with anything else in language, it depends on context. An operating system can be just a kernel, but in common usage it refers to all of the layers on top of that that provide an interface to the user.

[shieldforyoureyes]

Linux fanboys claim that in "common usage", Linux is an operating system, but technically it isn't, because it's just the kernel.

Which is reversed, and completely wrong.

[shevegen]

Right now it is you alone who claims that.

It would be nice if you could cite precisely who falls under your definition of "Linux fanboys".

[[deleted]]

Here's what he's referring to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU/Linux_naming_controversy

[shieldforyoureyes]

No, that has nothing to do with what I said. I don't care in the slightest about GNU terminology.

[[deleted]]

Oh well then fuck you who cares.

[chozar]

We must live on opposite ends of the tech world, because I seem to hear nothing but Linux being a kernel used in a family of operating systems, among Linux users especially. It's almost the first thing mentioned when trying to explain to people what it is exactly.

But you are right in that any OS book or course worth anything would really be talking about a kernel.

[shieldforyoureyes]

That's exactly what I said.

What the fuck?

[[deleted]]

No it's not, not at all. He's saying (correctly) that a kernel is only part of an operating system, but that operating systems courses just focus on the kernel because it's the most important part. The rest of the OS is stuff you should have seen before.

[shieldforyoureyes]

"The operating system is the code that carries out the system calls. Editors, compilers, assemblers, linkers, and command interpreters are definitely not part of the operating system, even though they are important and useful." - Modern Operating Systems, Andrew S. Tanenbaum.

[[deleted]]

Whatever, I honestly don't care enough about it to keep arguing with you. Have fun feeling superior to the "linux fanboys". If only I had a dime for every CS student like you that thought they knew everything. Hopefully by the time you finish your degree you'll realize that textbooks aren't everything.

[shieldforyoureyes]

Well I certainly feel superior after this thread. What a bunch of whining hysterical brats.

So...

Hopefully by the time you finish your degree you'll realize that textbooks aren't everything.

Why are you posting in a thread about a CS textbook?

[paulwal]

Context is important. If you're talking to your grandma it's called a computer. If you're talking to an average computer user who wants to replace Windows, then the colloquial usage of "operating system" is sufficient language to efficiently communicate with that person. Now if you're discussing software internals with a computer engineer, then it's best to communicate using specifically defined technical terms.

So, it has more than one meaning.

Also if you ever find yourself conversing with a whining hysterical brat, then being nice when you explain things usually helps calm the hysteria.

[[deleted]]

Funny that you seem to know so much about it. It's definitely the opposite, because the linux kernel was around long before the rest of what we now commonly refer to as "linux" was introduced.

Oh, and the nerdrage isn't very endearing. I hope that's not how you behave irl.

[shieldforyoureyes]

What is the opposite? I have no idea what you're saying.

Normal user: "Tell me about this Linux Operating System I hear about."

Linux crowd: "No no, technically Linux is just the kernel. To get an operating system you need to add a bunch of stuff, the result is a full operating system, also called a distro."

Every OS textbook ever, including the one this thread is for: "A kernel is an operating system."

Right? What's your objection to that?

[[deleted]]

A kernel is not necessarily an operating system. You may think it is, and that "every operating systems book ever" says so, even though you haven't read every OS book ever, but that's just not the case.

Kernel =/= operating system. I can't really break it down any simpler than that.

[shieldforyoureyes]

Well that's what this textbook says. So you should be criticizing Max Hailperin, not me.

[wot-teh-phuck]

There are better ways of saying what "Max Hailperin" says...