this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2026
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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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[–] helix@feddit.org 120 points 1 month ago (11 children)

I think they should keep both names and just have WLBR be the "enterprise" version.

However, in non-English speaking countries, nobody has an issue with GIMP. And even my very religious and Murican MIL uses Gimp. She doesn't even know.

If anything, those discussions further the association, as they come up when you google "gimp program sexual" or sth like that.

It's short for GNU image manipulation program. I mean, you could short it to imp, or rename it to Picture & Image Manipulation Program (PIMP).

[–] mech@feddit.org 84 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I propose Scriptable Image Manipulation Program (SIMP)

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 month ago

SIMPly genius!

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[–] wltr@discuss.tchncs.de 40 points 1 month ago (1 children)
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[–] EmK@lemmy.ca 29 points 1 month ago (4 children)

It must be something that can't possibly be construed as sexual innuendo, like Linux Image Manipulation Program (LIMP)...

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[–] ALoafOfBread@lemmy.ml 26 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (7 children)

Gimp is really just a rare/archaic ableist slur anyway - like to refer to someone with a limp or otherwise a leg/lack of a leg that impedes their gait. I've never heard it used in my life.

The sexual usage is from gay bdsm subculture in the 70s that the large majority of ppl who are aware of it are only aware because of Pulp Fiction.

My vote is for pimp

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[–] xnx@piefed.social 102 points 1 month ago (11 children)

From a name you don’t want to say to a name you can’t say

[–] decended_being@midwest.social 34 points 1 month ago

I think you just pronounce it Wilbur

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[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 71 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I will be locking this issue to avoid non-core developers spamming with the same walls of texts about the project name.

Bruno is a very wise man.

[–] mina86@lemmy.wtf 26 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I dunno. A wise man would propose a better name.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 21 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A man can be wise and still propose a name that some people don't like. The reason why this man is wise is, he knows what would happen and is wise enough to limit / lock the thread before it happens.

[–] mina86@lemmy.wtf 19 points 1 month ago (8 children)

There are names that ‘some people don’t like.’ There are also terrible names. WLBR is both.

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[–] furycd001@lemmy.ml 65 points 1 month ago (9 children)

GIMP is GIMP. It’s been GIMP for decades, and that name carries history, recognition, and a community that built something genuine. Rebranding it to WLBR feels like throwing all of that away for the sake of optics that most longtime users like myself frankly don’t care about. It's not progress in any way, it’s unnecessary self-erasure. GIMP works, GIMP is known as such, and GIMP should stay exactly what it is....

[–] Scrollone@feddit.it 32 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Also, WLBR sucks ass as a name. Just call it Glimpse at this point.

LibreOffice managed to dethrone OpenOffice, but many people still call it OpenOffice even after all these years.

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[–] commander@lemmy.world 62 points 1 month ago (10 children)

It took me reading the comments here to get that it's pronounced Wilbur. I don't get why it needs to be an acronym

It's not open source unless the package name is a scabby dumpster fire.

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[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 47 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] msfroh@lemmy.ca 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The sound of a dog drinking from a sprinkler?

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[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 47 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Since it's called the GNU Image Manipulation Program, why not pick up the extremely low hanging fruit and call it GNU Imp? It also comes with a free mascot.

Edit: And given that Wilber already has a cheeky smile and two horn-like ears, it wouldn't even be that much of a new mascot either. I mean come on people, do I have to think of everything around here?

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[–] MrSoup@lemmy.zip 46 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Why not just Wilber? Just like the mascot.

[–] slartibartfast141@piefed.zip 48 points 1 month ago (2 children)

The Linux community can't let an opportunity for an acronym to go to waste. Even more so for a backronym.

[–] eleijeep@piefed.social 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Could have had the recursive acronym KINGIMP (KINGIMP Is Not GIMP) smdh

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[–] yoevli@lemmy.world 46 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I can understand the desire to change it given that the current name is arguably a slur in some contexts, but this is a terrible new name. There was a fork awhile back with this same motivation called "Glimpse" - I really think they should have chosen a name with some continuity from the original, and certainly not what looks to be an initialism (I never would have come to "Wilbur" on my own).

[–] Joelk111@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (6 children)

I also would not have come to Wilbur on my own. Gimp is a weird name, but at least it's pronouncable. Glimpse sounds great to me tbh. A nod to GIMP, but also a sensical name.

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[–] ghaydn@lemmy.4d2.org 43 points 1 month ago

Sooo, basically they're changing the name that's somewhat bad in English to the name that's terrible in all languages? Huh.

[–] excel@lemming.megumin.org 43 points 1 month ago

And here I was worried they would pick another terrible name.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 41 points 1 month ago (22 children)

Where are people getting that this is a rebrand?

It's just an environment variable you can set that changes the name if it offends you.

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[–] unwarlikeExtortion@lemmy.ml 41 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (18 children)

To be honest, this seems like a stupid fix to a non-issue.

There's already Latex, and the purists calling it Lateh only make it seem like they know and are ashamed.

Or Uranus being pronounced not as your-anus but urine-us. The "alternate/kid-friendly" option is just plain worse. It also teaches kids certain words are bad, which is a bad idea for a multitude of resons I won't get into.

I say keep GIMP GIMP, loud and clear. No need to be ashamed, because it isn't shameful.

Attempting to avoid this absolute non-issue by ingenious pronounciation or rebranding just exacerbates the issue.

It's called "GIMP" and not "Fuck Me then Go Out The Door". Wether or not GIMP was a moment of "funny humor" or not is beside the point. The "official" explanation is perfectly belieavable, and therefore suitable enough. Just run with it.

If an idiot asks "Why's it called like [insert-here]", just say it's a fucking coincidence and you don't care. Call them dirty-minded for bonus points.

[–] skisnow@lemmy.ca 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

There’s already Latex

wait what? Latex is used in tons of non-sexytime things, surely nobody's raising an eyebrow at that?

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[–] netvor@lemmy.world 31 points 1 month ago (1 children)

"WLBR"

..just rolllrrrs .. lorrrs .. rolls off the tongue!

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[–] Rokin@leminal.space 26 points 1 month ago

I really like the name GIMP.

[–] winni@piefed.social 25 points 1 month ago (1 children)
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[–] apftwb@lemmy.world 25 points 1 month ago

Years of jokes, wasted.

[–] schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 24 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Is WLBR supposed to be an abbreviation for something? I realize it is a reference to the mascot Wilber, but apart from that?

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[–] Fmstrat@lemmy.world 24 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Hear me out.. Everything doesn't have to be an acronym.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

EDHTBAA, got it

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[–] cookiecoookie@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

Wilbur didn't want food, he wanted love.

E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

[–] wuphysics87@lemmy.ml 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)
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[–] Andrzej3K@hexbear.net 18 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I'm in favor of renaming but could they not have included a vowel or two

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[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Who is frail enough to have a problem with GNU Image Manipulation Program

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[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago

So, we'll pronounce it "Wilbur"?

I'm sure those in charge of this had the argument and went 'round and 'round with it. And, this is what they came up with.

Whatever, we'll get used to it, but I'm not sure it's a good idea. It will probably hurt brand recognition more than the mildly-offensive "GIMP" ever has. At least when noobs heard "gimp", their ears would perk up in mild surprise, and they'd ask what it is, there-by solidifying the product in their minds. "Wilbur" just won't have the same effect, because there's no surprise. They'll ask, but the impact will not be as great, and they'll forget. "Wilbur" is forgettable as a name for anything, or anyone. "Gimp" is not.

[–] RedWeasel@lemmy.world 16 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Couldn’t they just call it IMP(Image Manipulation Program)?

[–] savvywolf@pawb.social 17 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Yeah, GNU IMP. Recognisable and easy to understand for those familiar with the old name.

WLBR just seems like people being clever for clevers sake.

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[–] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 16 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

WLBR was the local radio station from my home town in PA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLBR

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[–] harambe69@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

If we stop using words because someone, at some point in time, misused them and attached negative connotations to them, then by 2100 the english language will be censored in its entirety.

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