Distribution Contents

Linux distributions can include the following components:

  • Linux kernel: The core of Linux. The kernel interacts with the hardware to perform the tasks you require of your computer, such as save text in a file, display text or graphics on the screen, or send text or graphics to the printer. There is no operating system without the kernel.

  • Shell: A program that interfaces between the computer user and the kernel. The most common shell used on Linux is the Bash (Born again shell) shell, so named because it is derived from an earlier shell called the Bourne shell. The interfaces for Linux are described further in Chapter 5.

  • Linux commands, utilities, and applications: Programs that perform tasks. The task may be simple, such ...

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