Z:gnu-www-ja-gnu-linux-faq--48c5a1-Most operating system distribu/en

Most operating system distributions based on Linux as kernel are basically modified versions of the GNU operating system. We began developing GNU in 1984, years before Linus Torvalds started to write his kernel. Our goal was to develop a complete free operating system. Of course, we did not develop all the parts ourselves&mdash;but we led the way. We developed most of the central components, forming the largest single contribution to the whole system. The basic vision was ours too.