Another aspect to this is that Android is Linux, but it is not GNU / Linux. This is true both in the literal sense of not using GNU coreutils or glibc, and also in the broader sense.
What I mean by the “broader” sense:
no X or Wayland
GTK or Qt support is something an application has to bring with them.
filesystem is substantially reorganized
users and system permissions setup substantially differently
To the application programmer Android / Linux looks like a completely different ball game.
Its like saying MAC is UNIX, technically yes but not really
macOS is UNIX-based. Period. In fact, “[s]tarting with Leopard, macOS has been certified as compatible with the Single UNIX Specification version 3 (SUSv3).” Source
As far as I can tell literally everything (except for windows) is UNIX, it isn’t exactly a high bar to pass, it’s like saying all drinks are water based which is technically true but I’m not going to give a kid a wine box when I run out of juice boxes.
I think that Linux is synonymous with open source and freedom and to some extent privacy.
android is synonymous with Google
I’m only guessing, but when people ask about a Linux tablet or phone, they actually want the former, rather than the later, even though android is a Linux derivative, as you rightly said.
I guess I’m going to be that guy today. Android is Linux, and it’s installed on a lot of mobile devices already.
Another aspect to this is that Android is Linux, but it is not GNU / Linux. This is true both in the literal sense of not using GNU coreutils or glibc, and also in the broader sense.
What I mean by the “broader” sense:
To the application programmer Android / Linux looks like a completely different ball game.
You’ll see that’s not the question that was asked. And it’s okay not to give Stallman any more validation for his fame-grab.
And you can (sometimes) install something like PostmarketOS which is closer to the kind of linux people think about when they hear “Linux”
PostmarketOS isn’t “closer”… It fully is GNU/Linux.
You are correct. His statement wasn’t about technology, it was about expectations.
Android is maintaining a fork of Linux kernel that has since diverged.
Its like saying MAC is UNIX, technically yes but not really
macOS definitely is Unix. In the literal sense that it is actually certified (unlike FreeBSD, for example), and it is very much Unix-y under the hood.
macOS is UNIX-based. Period. In fact, “[s]tarting with Leopard, macOS has been certified as compatible with the Single UNIX Specification version 3 (SUSv3).” Source
so macOS is sus
Exactly Android also is “Linux based” period.
That’s my point.
As far as I can tell literally everything (except for windows) is UNIX, it isn’t exactly a high bar to pass, it’s like saying all drinks are water based which is technically true but I’m not going to give a kid a wine box when I run out of juice boxes.
I think that Linux is synonymous with open source and freedom and to some extent privacy.
android is synonymous with Google
I’m only guessing, but when people ask about a Linux tablet or phone, they actually want the former, rather than the later, even though android is a Linux derivative, as you rightly said.
FYI, Android is open source.
I don’t know if you are deliberately missing the point ?
You need a lot more than open source android to make a phone work.
I didn’t miss the point. Maybe you’re conflating a distribution with an operating system. But, since you brought it up:
My point is that — at least in my eyes — open source is not synonymous with one single project. Do with that what you will.
Edge cases
How many phones support grapheme ?
I really shouldn’t feed the trolls, but eh, I’m learning a lot rebuking you, so maybe somebody else can benefit from your ignorance as well:
😊
😂
How many support LineageOS? Answer: a lot.