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The Linux kernel is a free and open source, [11]: 4 Unix-like kernel that is used in many computer systems worldwide. The kernel was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and was soon adopted as the kernel for the GNU operating system (OS) which was created to be a free replacement for Unix.
The Linux kernel is both monolithic and modular, since it can insert and remove loadable kernel modules at runtime. This central component of a computer system is responsible for executing programs. The kernel takes responsibility for deciding at any time which of the many running programs should be allocated to the processor or processors.
This article documents the version history of the Linux kernel. Each major version – identified by the first two numbers of a release version – is designated one of the following levels of support: Supported until next stable version; Long-term support (LTS); maintained for a few years [1]
This is an accepted version of this page This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 2 March 2025. Family of Unix-like operating systems This article is about the family of operating systems. For the kernel, see Linux kernel. For other uses, see Linux (disambiguation). Operating system Linux Tux the penguin, the mascot of Linux Developer Community contributors, Linus Torvalds Written in ...
A Linux distribution [a] (often abbreviated as distro) is an operating system that includes the Linux kernel for its kernel functionality. Although the name does not imply product distribution per se, a distro, if distributed on its own, is often obtained via a website intended specifically for the purpose.
Tux is a penguin character and the official brand character of the Linux kernel. [1] Originally created as an entry to a Linux logo competition, Tux is the most commonly used icon for Linux, although different Linux distributions depict Tux in various styles. The character is used in many other Linux programs and as a general symbol of Linux.
A monolithic kernel is an operating system architecture with the entire operating system running in kernel space. The monolithic model differs from other architectures such as the microkernel [ 1 ] [ 2 ] in that it alone defines a high-level virtual interface over computer hardware .
A high-level comparison of in-kernel and kernel-to-userspace APIs and ABIs The Linux kernel and GNU C Library define the Linux API. After compilation, the binaries offer an ABI. Keeping this ABI stable over a long time is important for ISVs. In computer software, an application binary interface (ABI) is an interface between two binary program ...