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.
The marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation defines a Kernel as
Your plastic pal that's fun to be with.
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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