The GNU project massively predates Linux. The Free Software Foundation developed and was distributing tons of software (all but a kernel) for use with all kinds of UNIX platforms throughout the 80's and 90's. I personally used GNU software on Sun (SunOS, later Solaris), HP (HP-UX), DEC (Ultrix) and IBM (AIX) platforms long before Linux ever existed.
And because of the (mostly) portable nature of GNU code, there were plenty of ports (of most of the packages) to non-UNIX platforms. I personally ran many GNU packages on MS-DOS and OS/2, neither of which even remotely resemble UNIX.
The distribution of GNU software with Linux was definitely critical to making Linux a viable platform, but that was facilitated by the fact that GNU has already been ported to nearly every UNIX and UNIX-like platform prior to Linux. In other words, Linux needed GNU to succeed but GNU did not need Linux, because it had already succeeded before Linux existed.
Oh, and BTW, the GNU project did eventually release its own kernel. They call it the HURD. Although it has a lot of interesting and cutting edge tech (and is well worth studying as a part of a college course on operating systems), it has not been a commercial success. If you're interested, it can be found here: https://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/hurd.html
No talk about direct 1TB connections to a backbone, but cable and fiber-to-the-home are not phone lines either. These days they are far more accurately described as dedicated data lines over which you can subscribe to phone, TV and Internet services.
Authored Comments
The GNU project massively predates Linux. The Free Software Foundation developed and was distributing tons of software (all but a kernel) for use with all kinds of UNIX platforms throughout the 80's and 90's. I personally used GNU software on Sun (SunOS, later Solaris), HP (HP-UX), DEC (Ultrix) and IBM (AIX) platforms long before Linux ever existed.
And because of the (mostly) portable nature of GNU code, there were plenty of ports (of most of the packages) to non-UNIX platforms. I personally ran many GNU packages on MS-DOS and OS/2, neither of which even remotely resemble UNIX.
The distribution of GNU software with Linux was definitely critical to making Linux a viable platform, but that was facilitated by the fact that GNU has already been ported to nearly every UNIX and UNIX-like platform prior to Linux. In other words, Linux needed GNU to succeed but GNU did not need Linux, because it had already succeeded before Linux existed.
Oh, and BTW, the GNU project did eventually release its own kernel. They call it the HURD. Although it has a lot of interesting and cutting edge tech (and is well worth studying as a part of a college course on operating systems), it has not been a commercial success. If you're interested, it can be found here: https://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/hurd.html
No talk about direct 1TB connections to a backbone, but cable and fiber-to-the-home are not phone lines either. These days they are far more accurately described as dedicated data lines over which you can subscribe to phone, TV and Internet services.