Wikipedia defines a "Kernel" as:
which I don't think is a very good definition. A kernel in my mind is something which manages the computers resources (memory, disk, processor time etc) and abstracts the hardware.
Anyone got anything that they think they should add to this definition?
Linux is an example of a MonolithicKernel, while TheHurd is an example of a MicroKernel
Remember, you can't boot a kernel by itself, hence the ReligiousWar of RMS vs common usage. Attempting to boot "Linux" would result in something along the lines of "Kernel Panic: Cannot find init". Trying to boot what RMS calls GNU/Linux would result in the OS we know and love.
97 pages link to Kernel:
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