I’ve been thinking about the best way to refer to systems that use the Linux kernel, whilst avoiding the confusions that come with using the latter for both meanings. Since there are GNU and non-GNU (e.g, Alpine Linux) systems, I assume that *Linux would cover both. However, for users without a technical background, the asterisk means much less than it does to developers — this seems self-deprecating, considering that the point of the suggested term is to avoid confusion for NON-TECHNICAL users. Am I overthinking?
That works.
To my ear though, “Linux based” leans too much towards the kernel. It makes me want to ask “what do you mean”.
I prefer “Linux distribution” or just Linux distro. If I was asked what that meant, I would simply have to say that Linux is available from different groups each of which curates slightly different collections of software which they “distribute”. Nobody needs to knew what a kernel is to understand that explanation.
I mean, I just say Linux. But when I do feel the need to distinguish, Linux distro and Linux kernel works for me.