[Zambyte]

> I can get behind the "Android isn't Linux" argument when it comes to claims of how numerous Linux users there are via smartphones. The userspace is quite distinct from anything GNU-like.

But why does having anything "GNU-like" determine whether or not something is Linux? Surely the fact that it is literally running Linux makes it Linux more than some related software (GNU) not being used.

[xethos]

Most people say linux, but mean GNU+Linux. Clearly, being a world-renowned software dev, and being in-your-face pedantic for literal decades isn't enough to get the point across for some people. Add whichever tooling you want (I've heard KDE+Linux before, and without looking it up, suspect Gnome+Linux wouldn't be wrong), but don't pretend Android doesn't use the Linux kernel.

I'll take my downvotes here for being an ass, but on a forum that loves being pedantic, I legitimately expect better. Android is Linux. Typically with an outdated kernel, without root, with a locked bootloader, and without the GNU tooling, but it's pretty hard to argue Android's not Linux.

[adgjlsfhk1]

GNU is a distraction here. In a decade or two there will probably be mainstream linux distros where all the GNU parts have been replaced by newer and better libraries (probably written in Rust). People say linux, but mean a linux system to which they have root access (or can phone up the sysadmin who does).

[xethos]

> but mean a linux system to which they have root access

Ah, like my Pixel 2. Respectfully, you might be on the wrong forum (and possibly the worst one outside XDA) to say "Most people here do not, and never did, have root access on their Android handsets".

If your distinction for what makes a Linux system a Linux system, is root access, recognize that many, many people here have met and cleared that bar.

[smabie]

Have most people on HN? Highly doubt it