this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2024
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Lineage os seems to be the most promising. We already have F-droid so the apps are there and the good news is that for every component that Google makes proprietary Lineage os is creating and maintaining a free software version.
It uses the Linux kernel yes but not what OP is asking at all
I would not call Android a Linux. It may have the kernel but it isn't much GNU in it
Wait, does this mean Alpine Linux is not Linux?
It can be free like Linux so it counts in my book. I wouldn't consider Google Android free but Lineage os counts
It is released under apache 2 license, not GPL. It is certainly free software, but I wouldn't say it is as free as linux.
https://source.android.com/license
True, but the Linux kernel is GPLv2 and Google nor any other company or organization can't change that
That makes it sound more like it is Linux, but not GNU. Which is accurate
An Android phone isn't what's referred to when people say "Linux phone". What they're referring to is a phone running GNU/Linux, typically running one of the GNU/Linux phone shells/desktop environments.