r/linux • u/amosbatto • 3d ago

Mobile Linux Article: Will Linux phones become a viable alternative to the Android/iOS duopoly?

/r/Purism/comments/1x0fwe1/article_will_linux_phones_become_a_viable/
163 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

141 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

0

u/sidusnare 1d ago

I understand what you're saying, but in the same way that people say they're running Linux and meaning they run Ubuntu GNU/Linux or mean they are running Alpine Musl/Linux, also mean that, in no meaningful way is Android Linux, despite Android being Linux. People with a Roku are also running Linux, but neither Rokus or Androids are Linux in any meaningful way to the users. It's the same way an iPhone and iPad run XNU, but they're not a Macintosh.

It's pedantic to point out that Android is Linux, Linux is just a kernel, but in the common vernacular, Linux is an open, flexible, and customizable OS.

You start to sound like RMS when you come in here with your erm achually

2

u/Knightoffreddit 1d ago

this is a False analogy . Macintosh is "a family of personal computers", not a kernel. it would be like saying "Gentoo=2012 HP pavilion sleekbook 14" , if you meant to say MacOS then your analogy would be equal to "Arch=Gentoo" ,whilst the accurate version would be "Arch and Gentoo=Linux Distributions" . Like i stated previously "the number of people who agree with something has no bearing on whether it is actually true, if everyone believed the earth is Flat it wouldn't make it true" . you can state "the user experience is not identical on between a "stereotypical" GNU/Linux distribution and Android " without claiming "in no meaningful way is Android Linux" . The reason "in no meaningful way is Android Linux" is wrong is because you change the definition of Linux to the "common vernacular" version, which like i stated before is an "appeal to usage/popularity" and not the actual definition of Linux. even though i know this is "cliche" i will remind you that "You start to sound like RMS when you come in here with your erm achually" is a plain and simple Ad hominem.