[NTLUG:Discuss] The wrong computation example from the newsgroup

[sysmail@glade.net]

Hmmm...  Pardon spewage from a newcomer, but gcc is an application, not
an operating system.

So not only was the criticism of Linux based on a GNU app, not the OS, but
there is an interesting open software principle here.  Commercial
operating systems tend to enforce boundaries, open source systems tend to
enforce enlightenment and options.

I think if I were unhappy with the performance of gcc under FreeBSD (or
Linux), I would look to a newer release of the app, or I would choose a
different language tool - but I wouldn't blame the OS. On the other hand,
if I were prone to judging an OS based on the apps it came with, I think I
just might be a real Windows fan! (Please don't let my kids know I
actually said that, please - it would disillusion them!)

But, with all due respect to the organization hosting this entertaining
and informative forum, FreeBSD is a nice system.  I found my life easier
with Linux on my system, but if I were forced to muddle along with FreeBSD
I believe I could still cope with life.  As I recall, I had just about
everything I needed running just fine under FreeBSD - but it sure is nice
to hitchhike along on the broad support Linux enjoys, and it has proven a
more flexible tool for me.

Regards to all, peace on earth, good will towards all, and feel free to
contribute any flames to my /dev/null...

Carl

On Sun, 18 Mar 2001, Steve Baker wrote:

> Like I said before - it's just as likely to depend on the phase of the
> moon.
>
>