As Richard Stallman said
"Names convey meanings; our choice of names determines the meaning of what we say. An inappropriate name gives people the wrong idea. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet—but if you call it a pen, people will be rather disappointed when they try to write with it. And if you call pens “roses”, people may not realize what they are good for. If you call our operating system Linux, that conveys a mistaken idea of the system's origin, history, and purpose. If you call it GNU/Linux, that conveys (though not in detail) an accurate idea."
Now the question arises in every one's mind as to why should we call is GNU Linux and not just Linux.So here starts the explantion:
If we are taking about whole system kernel,shell and utilities we should call it “GNU/Linux”.When we are talking about specifically kernel we should call it Linux. If we call the whole system “Linux”, as a consequence they call the whole system by the same name as the kernel. Die to this confusions are created, because only experts can tell whether a statement is about the kernel or the whole system. By calling the whole system “GNU/Linux”, and calling the kernel “Linux”, we avoid the ambiguity.
Linus Torvals wrote Linux kernel in 1990s, but before him GNU stared developing free OS.GNU development started in 1984.Though GNU did not develop all the parts themselves—but they led the way. As they developed most of the central components, forming the largest single contribution to the whole system. The basic vision was ours there too so In fairness, they ought to get at least equal mention.So its worth mentioning GNU/Linux rather than only Linux.
As this free OS (GNU/Linux) contains kernel as Linux and most of the utilities and shells are GNU utilities we call it GNU/Linux.
GNU is a small fraction of the system nowadays, and Linux is an even smaller fraction. But they are the system's core; the system was made by combining them. Thus, the name “GNU/Linux” remains appropriate.
(Note:Most of the above article is from http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#why)
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