2. Introduction to Linux

What exactly is Linux? The answer can be a complex one. Technically, Linux is a piece of software called the kernel. The kernel handles tasks such as booting the system and interacting with hardware devices. By itself, the kernel doesn’t really provide users with any functionality. The rest of the operating system (OS), consisting of the filesystem and a large number of commands, is what provides users with useful features.

Although Linux is technically just the kernel, many people refer to the entire OS as Linux. In reality, the collection of software that makes up the OS is known as a Linux distribution (also called a distro). Many distros are available to choose from, which often results in some confusion for novice ...

Get Linux for Developers: Jumpstart Your Linux Programming Skills now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.