IntroToLinux

Operating System vs Kernel

Operating System

An operating system is the complete software package that manages computer hardware and provides services for applications. It includes:

• Kernel (core)
• System utilities
• Libraries
• User interface (shell, desktop environment)

Kernel

The kernel is the core of the operating system that:

• Manages hardware resources
• Provides system calls
• Handles memory management
• Manages processes and scheduling

• Controls file systems

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