[SOLVED] The g prefix in linux program names.

stf92 · 02-01-2011, 02:39 PM

Hi:

Somebody once told me, in LQ, what the 'g' in names like gzip, gawk means, because I had assumed the incorrect meaning. Cf. zip, awk. I have now forgotten. An easy answer would be: GNU. Perhaps it's the correct one. Anyways, feedback would be welcome.

mudangel · 02-01-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stf92

An easy answer would be: GNU. Perhaps it's the correct one.

I think you're right on that one, "GNU tools" and all that...

GazL · 02-01-2011, 02:48 PM

Sometimes the 'g' means it's the GNU version of a traditional UNIX tool. Sometimes the 'g' means it's a gnome or gtk version of a particular program, and sometimes it's just a program that starts with a 'g'

bgeddy · 02-01-2011, 02:50 PM

It's means "part of the GNU project" for a lot of packages. Here's a list of all the packages involved.

stf92 · 02-01-2011, 02:56 PM

Thanks to all you, guys, and especially to bgeddy for his link.

lumak · 02-01-2011, 04:11 PM

@ GazL

Even if you were to say the g for a particular program was part of Gnome or GTK you would still be right in saying it's part of GNU ;P

It's like calling a square a rectangle but a rectangle is not a square.

raymor · 02-01-2011, 09:29 PM

Yeah, GNU or GPL, although developers often use the g in some other cute acronym.

GazL · 02-02-2011, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumak

Even if you were to say the g for a particular program was part of Gnome or GTK you would still be right in saying it's part of GNU ;P

Not all programs written to run on gnome/gtk are a part of gnome or of GNU. Third parties also write programs using the gnome or gtk libraries, and often those programs will be prefixed 'g' by those developers to signify the fact. And sometimes programs that are a part of Gnome don't get a 'g' prefix. My point was that you can't infer anything from the 'g' prefix because it can signify different things to different people, or even nothing al all.

archtoad6 · 02-05-2011, 08:20 AM

GNU, Gnome, & GTK may like to use initial "G's", just like KDE likes 'K'; but it's not like they have any claim on their favorite letters.