this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2023
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Showerthoughts
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You could say the same thing about other distros that hide the difficult bits, tbh. Is Endless Linux? What about Elementary?
The thing about Linux is that it's extremely flexible, and there's a lot of choices about interface and user experience.
So what is it about ChromeOS that makes it not Linux? Is it that it doesn't have GNOME, KDE, XFCE or the hundreds of other DEs? Is it that you don't need to use the terminal for anything? I mean, it's not the kernel or the userland or even the compiler...
So what is it?
Generally, Linux as a term refers to the Freedesktop standards, Linux kernel, and GNU userland. ChromeOS fulfills the latter two, but it lacks the Freedesktop standards, which are an essential part of the Linux platform. Therefore, it is logical to distinguish ChromeOS from standard Linux distributions since it diverges significantly from them. This differentiation has nothing to do with the Terminal, as it isn't necessary to use it at all on most distributions. Elementary OS and Endless OS adhere to the Freedesktop standards, they are parts of the same platform as other Linux distributions.
Forgive me, but I've been around the Linux/FOSS community for a couple decades and I have never heard someone mention the Freedesktop spec as a requirement to be considered 'Linux.' Considering that the Freedesktop spec is mostly targeted towards systems with graphical UIs, would that mean that any headless system running a Linux kernel and GNU userland is not considered 'Linux?' Furthermore, that kind of flies in the face of the idea of using Linux as a testing ground for alternative computing ideas.
Now, there's been a lot of discussion around fragmentation, and I get the arguments towards enforcing standards, but to me this is a truly bizarre line to draw in the sand. You could just as easily say "Any systems not using SysV are not 'real' Linux." Or any system that gets rid of /usr. Or any system that isn't POSIX compliant (bye bye, NixOS...).
Seriously. I don't get it. Please show me what I'm missing.
I don't think you are missing anything except the creeping in scope of the term "Linux" to exclude what they don't like. Embedded Linux works with 0 GUI, and dont conforms to Freedesktop standards (obviously), yet it's ridiculous for anyone to argue that isnt Linux. Alpine Linux also do not use GNU land, yet saying it is not "Linux" is also asinine. ChromeOS imo is Linux, it's locked down Linux, but Linux nonetheless.
Sorry for the late response. I mentioned Freedesktop in the context of the Linux desktop. Freedesktop is responsible for the desktop ecosystem typically associated with Linux, and it's what application developers refer to when discussing Linux compatibility. Steam for ChromeOS is not referred as Steam for Linux for a reason, it's an entirely different application. Of course, there are exceptions, such as NixOS and Alpine for example, but both of them still aim to be part of the "Linux desktop" ecosystem, whereas ChromeOS does not, and yes, it's "Linux" under the GUI stack, but referring to ChromeOS as a Linux desktop would only confuse those less familiar with the topic or worse, mislead them.
It's that we don't like the company google probably. But also it could be a combination of the factors you listed.
A somewhat large part of it. Linux has certain ethos that I just don't see reflected on ChromeOS. It may be linux and be a successful distro at the goals it aims for, but is is disjointed from the rest of us here at the foss world. I don't say that to get faux superior points on the internet.
Like a certain copy pasta that replies to the GNU + Linux copy pasta, "If windows was compiled with gcc, would that make it GNU?"?
For those who want to read it:
spoiler
Its not GNU+Linux
“I use Linux as my operating system,” I state proudly to the unkempt, bearded man. He swivels around in his desk chair with a devilish gleam in his eyes, ready to mansplain with extreme precision. “Actually”, he says with a grin, "Linux is just the kernel. You use GNU+Linux!’ I don’t miss a beat and reply with a smirk, “I use Alpine, a distro that doesn’t include the GNU coreutils, or any other GNU code. It’s Linux, but it’s not GNU+Linux.” The smile quickly drops from the man’s face. His body begins convulsing and he foams at the mouth and drops to the floor with a sickly thud. As he writhes around he screams “I-IT WAS COMPILED WITH GCC! THAT MEANS IT’S STILL GNU!” Coolly, I reply “If windows was compiled with gcc, would that make it GNU?” I interrupt his response with “-and work is being made on the kernel to make it more compiler-agnostic. Even you were correct, you wont be for long.” With a sickly wheeze, the last of the man’s life is ejected from his body. He lies on the floor, cold and limp. I’ve womansplained him to death.