Linux

48082 readers

781 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Rules

Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
No misinformation
No NSFW content
No hate speech, bigotry, etc

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

120

What are the major components of any Linux distribution? (lemm.ee)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

38 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hi all - I am learning about Linux and want to see if my understanding is correct on this - the list of major parts of any distro:

the Linux Kernel
GRUB or another bootloader
one or more file systems (gotta work with files somehow, right?)
one or more Shells (the terminal - bash, zsh, etc...)
a Desktop Environment (the GUI, if included, like KDE or Gnome - does this include X11 or Wayland or are those separate from the DE?)
a bunch of Default applications and daemons (is this where systemd fits int? I know about the GNU tools, SAMBA, CUPS, etc...)
a Package Manager (apt, pacman, etc...)

Am I forgetting anything at this 50,000 foot level? I know there are lots of other things we can add, but what are the most important things that ALL Linux distributions include?

Thanks!

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Package manager needs to be higher since Linux distros are software distribution projects mainly.

Package manager
Config tools
Config defaults
Kernel
Init process
Software

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Well, bootloader first, then kernel, then init.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago

What are we ranking? The boot order of computers?

Of the 3 you listed, the init is only important to a few distros.

Also you forgot this is Linux and the initramfs.