The Hurd and Linux

From 7e4ec33e095c6923fd13c56a9cf6c4083dbd116d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Stephen L. Favor" Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 14:45:29 +0000 Subject: Initial revision --- hurd-and-linux.html | 79 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 79 insertions(+) create mode 100644 hurd-and-linux.html (limited to 'hurd-and-linux.html') diff --git a/hurd-and-linux.html b/hurd-and-linux.html new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9c463116 --- /dev/null +++ b/hurd-and-linux.html @@ -0,0 +1,79 @@ + + + +The Hurd and Linux - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF) + + + +

(jpeg 10k) +(jpeg 20k) +no gifs due to patent problems +

+by Richard Stallman. +

+ +People sometimes ask, ``Why did the FSF develop a new free kernel +instead of using Linux?'' It's a reasonable question. The answer, +briefly, is that that is not the question we faced. + +

+When we started developing the Hurd in 1990, the question facing us +was, ``How can we get a free kernel for the GNU system?'' There was +no free Unix-like kernel then, and we knew of no other plan to write +one. The only way we could expect to have a free kernel was to write +it ourselves. So we started. + +

+We heard about Linux after its release. At that time, the question +facing us was, ``Should we cancel the Hurd project and use Linux +instead?'' + +

+We heard that Linux was not at all portable (this may not be true +today, but that's what we heard then). And we heard that Linux was +architecturally on a par with the Unix kernel; our work was leading to +something much more powerful. + +

+Given the years of work we had already put into the Hurd, we decided +to finish it rather than throw them away. + +

+If we did face the question that people ask---if Linux were already +available, and we were considering whether to start writing another +kernel---we would not do it. Instead we would choose another project, +something to do a job that no existing free software can do. + +

+But we did start the Hurd, back then, and now we have made it work. +We hope its superior architecture will make free operating systems +more powerful. + +

+ +Return to GNU's home page. +

+FSF & GNU inquiries & questions to +gnu@gnu.org. +Other ways to contact the FSF. +

+Comments on these web pages to +webmasters@www.gnu.org, +send other questions to +gnu@gnu.org. +

+Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is +permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.

+Updated: + +16 Feb 1998 tower + +

+ + -- cgit v1.2.3