Virtual Unix?

[dvryknopper]

Is Unix in knoppix, and other linux distros virtual only, like DOS is in Windows XP, or is linux/kde actually a gui running over Unix with access to a virtual terminal unix session only after the GUI is loaded?

[eadz]

The 2nd one ( Although as Harry points out below, it's not actually 'Unix', but Unix-like ).

[Harry Kuhman]

Do you know what GNU stands for in the software world?

[dvryknopper]

ah, I see, thankyou both, I actually had heard of GNU, and knew that this distro used it, but I never really looked much into what GNU actually was, I just figured it was a retailored version of unix, I didn't realize that it was actually a unix like clone, thanks.

[OErjan]

Sun microsystems use much of GNU in their Unix, the X11 system for one.

[jjmac]

UNIX is more a specification based on early research done at Bell Labs as a flow on from the failed Multics project.

Linux is an implimentation that strives to be UNIX like.

KDE is a gui program. And, though it may seem differently. It is just one of many gui's available. Though the main distros tend to push it a lot. Due to it basically being a Windows look and feel themed gui.

The purpose is to more easily entice windows users over to the particular distro.

While i do like some of the kde apps available there are apects to the way kde works which disturbe me quite a bit. Particually the way it ties programes to a specific environment. Mainly by getting the programe to rely on the kde environment to maintain state. And general configuration concerns. Such as fonts.

The real UNIX style has always just simply used a configuration file, or a hierarchy of configuration files providing a default system wide configuration, overridable by each user. Thus freeing the programe from any particular window manager. Seems kde likes the MS technique of centralising all those concerns. A total pain in the butt at times, i recone


jm