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.
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.
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
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”
Android is maintaining a fork of Linux kernel that has since diverged.
Its like saying MAC is UNIX, technically yes but not really
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.
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
Exactly Android also is “Linux based” period.
That’s my point.
Mac isn’t UNIX based, it is UNIX and comes with many of the UNIX tools a user would expect. Completely different situation.
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.
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:
😊
😂