Does Android really use the same kernel as Linux?
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I read from somewhere that Android uses the Linux Kernel. Is it really true? I thought the Linux Kernel was meant for desktop operating systems.
linux-kernel
edited Sep 16 '12 at 17:06
Renan
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asked Nov 27 '11 at 16:48
Mysterio
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up vote
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I read from somewhere that Android uses the Linux Kernel. Is it really true? I thought the Linux Kernel was meant for desktop operating systems.
linux-kernel
edited Sep 16 '12 at 17:06
Renan
14.2k65274
asked Nov 27 '11 at 16:48
Mysterio
293238
12
The Linux kernel is used on a lot of embedded devices. Android is borderline between embedded and desktop, there are far smaller devices running Linux.
– Gilles
Nov 27 '11 at 20:12
15
Modern phones are basically desktops with small displays. If you compare them to the desktops of ten years ago (which ran Linux just fine), you'll find the phones beat the older desktops on almost every specification.
– David Schwartz
Nov 28 '11 at 0:44
2
Probably important to emphasize three things - 1) the customizability of the Linux kernel - there's a lot that can be configured differently according to expected use or omitted if not needed, and 2) the kernel is generally just one component (albeit near or is the "bottom level" component) in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience, whether desktop, phone, server, or anything else. The majority of what makes Android "Android" is not the kernel, as you can tell from below, and 3) phone hardware is really powerful these days.
– LawrenceC
Sep 16 '12 at 17:41
@ultrasawblade said the kernel is responsible for user facing experience. This is not true. The user looks down on the stack, the components at the bottom are the most hidden. In Debian a popular Gnu+Linux, you can use the a bsd kernel making Gnu+bsd. It does not change things much from the users point of view. A system admin may see A difference if her tools do not hide this difference for her.
– ctrl-alt-delor
Jun 16 '14 at 9:36
I said "the kernel is generally just one component in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience" - means not that the kernel's responsible for it entirely but is just playing a part.
– LawrenceC
Jun 16 '14 at 10:41
add a comment |Â
up vote
23
down vote
favorite
up vote
23
down vote
favorite
I read from somewhere that Android uses the Linux Kernel. Is it really true? I thought the Linux Kernel was meant for desktop operating systems.
linux-kernel
edited Sep 16 '12 at 17:06
Renan
14.2k65274
asked Nov 27 '11 at 16:48
Mysterio
293238
I read from somewhere that Android uses the Linux Kernel. Is it really true? I thought the Linux Kernel was meant for desktop operating systems.
linux-kernel
linux-kernel
edited Sep 16 '12 at 17:06
Renan
14.2k65274
asked Nov 27 '11 at 16:48
Mysterio
293238
edited Sep 16 '12 at 17:06
Renan
14.2k65274
asked Nov 27 '11 at 16:48
Mysterio
293238
edited Sep 16 '12 at 17:06
Renan
14.2k65274
edited Sep 16 '12 at 17:06
Renan
14.2k65274
edited Sep 16 '12 at 17:06
Renan
14.2k65274
14.2k65274
asked Nov 27 '11 at 16:48
Mysterio
293238
asked Nov 27 '11 at 16:48
Mysterio
293238
asked Nov 27 '11 at 16:48
Mysterio
293238
293238
12
The Linux kernel is used on a lot of embedded devices. Android is borderline between embedded and desktop, there are far smaller devices running Linux.
– Gilles
Nov 27 '11 at 20:12
15
Modern phones are basically desktops with small displays. If you compare them to the desktops of ten years ago (which ran Linux just fine), you'll find the phones beat the older desktops on almost every specification.
– David Schwartz
Nov 28 '11 at 0:44
2
Probably important to emphasize three things - 1) the customizability of the Linux kernel - there's a lot that can be configured differently according to expected use or omitted if not needed, and 2) the kernel is generally just one component (albeit near or is the "bottom level" component) in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience, whether desktop, phone, server, or anything else. The majority of what makes Android "Android" is not the kernel, as you can tell from below, and 3) phone hardware is really powerful these days.
– LawrenceC
Sep 16 '12 at 17:41
@ultrasawblade said the kernel is responsible for user facing experience. This is not true. The user looks down on the stack, the components at the bottom are the most hidden. In Debian a popular Gnu+Linux, you can use the a bsd kernel making Gnu+bsd. It does not change things much from the users point of view. A system admin may see A difference if her tools do not hide this difference for her.
– ctrl-alt-delor
Jun 16 '14 at 9:36
I said "the kernel is generally just one component in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience" - means not that the kernel's responsible for it entirely but is just playing a part.
– LawrenceC
Jun 16 '14 at 10:41
add a comment |Â
12
The Linux kernel is used on a lot of embedded devices. Android is borderline between embedded and desktop, there are far smaller devices running Linux.
– Gilles
Nov 27 '11 at 20:12
15
Modern phones are basically desktops with small displays. If you compare them to the desktops of ten years ago (which ran Linux just fine), you'll find the phones beat the older desktops on almost every specification.
– David Schwartz
Nov 28 '11 at 0:44
2
Probably important to emphasize three things - 1) the customizability of the Linux kernel - there's a lot that can be configured differently according to expected use or omitted if not needed, and 2) the kernel is generally just one component (albeit near or is the "bottom level" component) in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience, whether desktop, phone, server, or anything else. The majority of what makes Android "Android" is not the kernel, as you can tell from below, and 3) phone hardware is really powerful these days.
– LawrenceC
Sep 16 '12 at 17:41
@ultrasawblade said the kernel is responsible for user facing experience. This is not true. The user looks down on the stack, the components at the bottom are the most hidden. In Debian a popular Gnu+Linux, you can use the a bsd kernel making Gnu+bsd. It does not change things much from the users point of view. A system admin may see A difference if her tools do not hide this difference for her.
– ctrl-alt-delor
Jun 16 '14 at 9:36
I said "the kernel is generally just one component in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience" - means not that the kernel's responsible for it entirely but is just playing a part.
– LawrenceC
Jun 16 '14 at 10:41
12
12
The Linux kernel is used on a lot of embedded devices. Android is borderline between embedded and desktop, there are far smaller devices running Linux.
– Gilles
Nov 27 '11 at 20:12
The Linux kernel is used on a lot of embedded devices. Android is borderline between embedded and desktop, there are far smaller devices running Linux.
– Gilles
Nov 27 '11 at 20:12
15
15
Modern phones are basically desktops with small displays. If you compare them to the desktops of ten years ago (which ran Linux just fine), you'll find the phones beat the older desktops on almost every specification.
– David Schwartz
Nov 28 '11 at 0:44
Modern phones are basically desktops with small displays. If you compare them to the desktops of ten years ago (which ran Linux just fine), you'll find the phones beat the older desktops on almost every specification.
– David Schwartz
Nov 28 '11 at 0:44
2
2
Probably important to emphasize three things - 1) the customizability of the Linux kernel - there's a lot that can be configured differently according to expected use or omitted if not needed, and 2) the kernel is generally just one component (albeit near or is the "bottom level" component) in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience, whether desktop, phone, server, or anything else. The majority of what makes Android "Android" is not the kernel, as you can tell from below, and 3) phone hardware is really powerful these days.
– LawrenceC
Sep 16 '12 at 17:41
Probably important to emphasize three things - 1) the customizability of the Linux kernel - there's a lot that can be configured differently according to expected use or omitted if not needed, and 2) the kernel is generally just one component (albeit near or is the "bottom level" component) in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience, whether desktop, phone, server, or anything else. The majority of what makes Android "Android" is not the kernel, as you can tell from below, and 3) phone hardware is really powerful these days.
– LawrenceC
Sep 16 '12 at 17:41
@ultrasawblade said the kernel is responsible for user facing experience. This is not true. The user looks down on the stack, the components at the bottom are the most hidden. In Debian a popular Gnu+Linux, you can use the a bsd kernel making Gnu+bsd. It does not change things much from the users point of view. A system admin may see A difference if her tools do not hide this difference for her.
– ctrl-alt-delor
Jun 16 '14 at 9:36
@ultrasawblade said the kernel is responsible for user facing experience. This is not true. The user looks down on the stack, the components at the bottom are the most hidden. In Debian a popular Gnu+Linux, you can use the a bsd kernel making Gnu+bsd. It does not change things much from the users point of view. A system admin may see A difference if her tools do not hide this difference for her.
– ctrl-alt-delor
Jun 16 '14 at 9:36
I said "the kernel is generally just one component in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience" - means not that the kernel's responsible for it entirely but is just playing a part.
– LawrenceC
Jun 16 '14 at 10:41
I said "the kernel is generally just one component in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience" - means not that the kernel's responsible for it entirely but is just playing a part.
– LawrenceC
Jun 16 '14 at 10:41
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
38
down vote
accepted
Architecture of Android
Android relies on Linux for core system services such as security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model. The kernel also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software stack.
Latest Android runs Linux version 3.10 (source).
And my comment on your second sentence is that Linux Kernel is not meant for only desktop operating systems. Its use cases vary from Desktop OS to Servers, mainframes and supercomputers to Embedded Devices.
Linux is a widely ported operating system kernel. Due to its low cost and ease of customization, the Linux kernel is used on a highly diverse range of computer architectures: in the hand-held devices and the mainframe Systems, in devices ranging from mobile phones to supercomputers.
On the other note:
Palm (later acquired by HP) use Linux-derived operating system, webOS, which is used into its line of Palm Pre smartphones. Several network firewalls and routers from makers such as Cisco/Linksys use customized linux kernel. There are tons of devices out there which are using embedded linux.
edited Dec 13 '13 at 21:27
mmoya
4,20111420
answered Nov 27 '11 at 17:07
Sachin Divekar
3,7981619
2
I don't know why say that the kernel is not meant for desktop operating systems. It works perfectly fine on desktop devices. It also works fine on many other classes of device so maybe you meant to say it is not exclusively for desktop devices.
– Richm
Nov 27 '11 at 17:48
@Richm, Thanks for pointing it out. I have corrected it in the answer.
– Sachin Divekar
Nov 27 '11 at 18:06
On Linux/UNIX platforms the desktop is a set of applications that use the kernel services. This make it easy to add, swap, or remove desktops. Servers often replace the desktop with a terminal shell.
– BillThor
Nov 27 '11 at 18:23
Isn't a "phone" just some form of desktop? :-p
– johannes
Nov 27 '11 at 19:53
Note that Android originally used a heavily modified version of the linux kernel, but as of 3.5 a lot of featured are merged back into the main kernel. Android 4.4 currently runs on much less patched Linux 3.4 kernel (an long term release)
– dtech
Dec 13 '13 at 19:54
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
6
down vote
Yes, as do many other embedded devices. Many routers also use a Linux based OS, as, like Sachin said, it is easily customizable.
Here is a Xubuntu screenshot of mine, Running mksh and Android kernel 3.0.8+ (From the Android x86 sources)
edited Feb 27 '14 at 13:59
mirabilos
1,198826
answered Dec 13 '13 at 18:10
Jonathan
6111
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
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Yes and no (depending on what you mean by Linux)
There is a lot of confusion around the name Linux; It if often used to refer to two different things.
It the case of android, and some other cases. It refers to a Kernel named Linux. A small but essential part of an operating system. A kernel controls the hardware and provides services to the rest of the system. (see nice diagram answer of @Sachin Divekar).
In the case of almost all desktop systems it refers to X11+Gnu+Linux. See the diagram again, but remove all references to phone, telephony and android. Now change Application Framework to Gnu Tools, add a layer called X11, and another called Gnome or Kde etc. Then put application back on top. For servers there is usually no X11 or Kde/Gnome, as a graphical user interface is a waist of resources.
Android does not use X11 (though it can, but not to run android apps) or the Gnu Tool. However like Gnu+Linux some of the libraries are Gnu.
It is often difficult to know which meaning someone has when they say Linux. This is why it is recommended to say “Gnu/Linux†when you mean Gnu+Linux, and “Linux kernelâ€Â, as you did, for the kernel. However don't say kernel, unless you know what one is (I have heard people add the word kernel in front of Linux (because they were told that is the correct term), bet they were using it to refer to Gnu+Linux.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 9:26
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is not just embedded and desktops where you will find the Linux Kernel.
- 490 of the top 500 super computers are running, the full, Gnu/Linux.
- Around 80% of web servers are running Gnu/Linux.
- Most of the internet infrastructure is running Gnu/Linux or are embedded devices. Of these embedded devices, a large proportion will have the kernel named Linux.
answered May 14 '15 at 18:17
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
1
It's now all 500 top supercomputers running Linux.
– DRS David Soft
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
38
down vote
accepted
Architecture of Android
Android relies on Linux for core system services such as security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model. The kernel also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software stack.
Latest Android runs Linux version 3.10 (source).
And my comment on your second sentence is that Linux Kernel is not meant for only desktop operating systems. Its use cases vary from Desktop OS to Servers, mainframes and supercomputers to Embedded Devices.
Linux is a widely ported operating system kernel. Due to its low cost and ease of customization, the Linux kernel is used on a highly diverse range of computer architectures: in the hand-held devices and the mainframe Systems, in devices ranging from mobile phones to supercomputers.
On the other note:
Palm (later acquired by HP) use Linux-derived operating system, webOS, which is used into its line of Palm Pre smartphones. Several network firewalls and routers from makers such as Cisco/Linksys use customized linux kernel. There are tons of devices out there which are using embedded linux.
edited Dec 13 '13 at 21:27
mmoya
4,20111420
answered Nov 27 '11 at 17:07
Sachin Divekar
3,7981619
2
I don't know why say that the kernel is not meant for desktop operating systems. It works perfectly fine on desktop devices. It also works fine on many other classes of device so maybe you meant to say it is not exclusively for desktop devices.
– Richm
Nov 27 '11 at 17:48
@Richm, Thanks for pointing it out. I have corrected it in the answer.
– Sachin Divekar
Nov 27 '11 at 18:06
On Linux/UNIX platforms the desktop is a set of applications that use the kernel services. This make it easy to add, swap, or remove desktops. Servers often replace the desktop with a terminal shell.
– BillThor
Nov 27 '11 at 18:23
Isn't a "phone" just some form of desktop? :-p
– johannes
Nov 27 '11 at 19:53
Note that Android originally used a heavily modified version of the linux kernel, but as of 3.5 a lot of featured are merged back into the main kernel. Android 4.4 currently runs on much less patched Linux 3.4 kernel (an long term release)
– dtech
Dec 13 '13 at 19:54
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
38
down vote
accepted
Architecture of Android
Android relies on Linux for core system services such as security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model. The kernel also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software stack.
Latest Android runs Linux version 3.10 (source).
And my comment on your second sentence is that Linux Kernel is not meant for only desktop operating systems. Its use cases vary from Desktop OS to Servers, mainframes and supercomputers to Embedded Devices.
Linux is a widely ported operating system kernel. Due to its low cost and ease of customization, the Linux kernel is used on a highly diverse range of computer architectures: in the hand-held devices and the mainframe Systems, in devices ranging from mobile phones to supercomputers.
On the other note:
Palm (later acquired by HP) use Linux-derived operating system, webOS, which is used into its line of Palm Pre smartphones. Several network firewalls and routers from makers such as Cisco/Linksys use customized linux kernel. There are tons of devices out there which are using embedded linux.
edited Dec 13 '13 at 21:27
mmoya
4,20111420
answered Nov 27 '11 at 17:07
Sachin Divekar
3,7981619
2
I don't know why say that the kernel is not meant for desktop operating systems. It works perfectly fine on desktop devices. It also works fine on many other classes of device so maybe you meant to say it is not exclusively for desktop devices.
– Richm
Nov 27 '11 at 17:48
@Richm, Thanks for pointing it out. I have corrected it in the answer.
– Sachin Divekar
Nov 27 '11 at 18:06
On Linux/UNIX platforms the desktop is a set of applications that use the kernel services. This make it easy to add, swap, or remove desktops. Servers often replace the desktop with a terminal shell.
– BillThor
Nov 27 '11 at 18:23
Isn't a "phone" just some form of desktop? :-p
– johannes
Nov 27 '11 at 19:53
Note that Android originally used a heavily modified version of the linux kernel, but as of 3.5 a lot of featured are merged back into the main kernel. Android 4.4 currently runs on much less patched Linux 3.4 kernel (an long term release)
– dtech
Dec 13 '13 at 19:54
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
38
down vote
accepted
up vote
38
down vote
accepted
Architecture of Android
Android relies on Linux for core system services such as security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model. The kernel also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software stack.
Latest Android runs Linux version 3.10 (source).
And my comment on your second sentence is that Linux Kernel is not meant for only desktop operating systems. Its use cases vary from Desktop OS to Servers, mainframes and supercomputers to Embedded Devices.
Linux is a widely ported operating system kernel. Due to its low cost and ease of customization, the Linux kernel is used on a highly diverse range of computer architectures: in the hand-held devices and the mainframe Systems, in devices ranging from mobile phones to supercomputers.
On the other note:
Palm (later acquired by HP) use Linux-derived operating system, webOS, which is used into its line of Palm Pre smartphones. Several network firewalls and routers from makers such as Cisco/Linksys use customized linux kernel. There are tons of devices out there which are using embedded linux.
edited Dec 13 '13 at 21:27
mmoya
4,20111420
answered Nov 27 '11 at 17:07
Sachin Divekar
3,7981619
Architecture of Android
Android relies on Linux for core system services such as security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model. The kernel also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software stack.
Latest Android runs Linux version 3.10 (source).
And my comment on your second sentence is that Linux Kernel is not meant for only desktop operating systems. Its use cases vary from Desktop OS to Servers, mainframes and supercomputers to Embedded Devices.
Linux is a widely ported operating system kernel. Due to its low cost and ease of customization, the Linux kernel is used on a highly diverse range of computer architectures: in the hand-held devices and the mainframe Systems, in devices ranging from mobile phones to supercomputers.
On the other note:
Palm (later acquired by HP) use Linux-derived operating system, webOS, which is used into its line of Palm Pre smartphones. Several network firewalls and routers from makers such as Cisco/Linksys use customized linux kernel. There are tons of devices out there which are using embedded linux.
edited Dec 13 '13 at 21:27
mmoya
4,20111420
answered Nov 27 '11 at 17:07
Sachin Divekar
3,7981619
edited Dec 13 '13 at 21:27
mmoya
4,20111420
edited Dec 13 '13 at 21:27
mmoya
4,20111420
edited Dec 13 '13 at 21:27
mmoya
4,20111420
4,20111420
answered Nov 27 '11 at 17:07
Sachin Divekar
3,7981619
answered Nov 27 '11 at 17:07
Sachin Divekar
3,7981619
answered Nov 27 '11 at 17:07
Sachin Divekar
3,7981619
3,7981619
2
I don't know why say that the kernel is not meant for desktop operating systems. It works perfectly fine on desktop devices. It also works fine on many other classes of device so maybe you meant to say it is not exclusively for desktop devices.
– Richm
Nov 27 '11 at 17:48
@Richm, Thanks for pointing it out. I have corrected it in the answer.
– Sachin Divekar
Nov 27 '11 at 18:06
On Linux/UNIX platforms the desktop is a set of applications that use the kernel services. This make it easy to add, swap, or remove desktops. Servers often replace the desktop with a terminal shell.
– BillThor
Nov 27 '11 at 18:23
Isn't a "phone" just some form of desktop? :-p
– johannes
Nov 27 '11 at 19:53
Note that Android originally used a heavily modified version of the linux kernel, but as of 3.5 a lot of featured are merged back into the main kernel. Android 4.4 currently runs on much less patched Linux 3.4 kernel (an long term release)
– dtech
Dec 13 '13 at 19:54
 |Â
show 1 more comment
2
I don't know why say that the kernel is not meant for desktop operating systems. It works perfectly fine on desktop devices. It also works fine on many other classes of device so maybe you meant to say it is not exclusively for desktop devices.
– Richm
Nov 27 '11 at 17:48
@Richm, Thanks for pointing it out. I have corrected it in the answer.
– Sachin Divekar
Nov 27 '11 at 18:06
On Linux/UNIX platforms the desktop is a set of applications that use the kernel services. This make it easy to add, swap, or remove desktops. Servers often replace the desktop with a terminal shell.
– BillThor
Nov 27 '11 at 18:23
Isn't a "phone" just some form of desktop? :-p
– johannes
Nov 27 '11 at 19:53
Note that Android originally used a heavily modified version of the linux kernel, but as of 3.5 a lot of featured are merged back into the main kernel. Android 4.4 currently runs on much less patched Linux 3.4 kernel (an long term release)
– dtech
Dec 13 '13 at 19:54
2
2
I don't know why say that the kernel is not meant for desktop operating systems. It works perfectly fine on desktop devices. It also works fine on many other classes of device so maybe you meant to say it is not exclusively for desktop devices.
– Richm
Nov 27 '11 at 17:48
I don't know why say that the kernel is not meant for desktop operating systems. It works perfectly fine on desktop devices. It also works fine on many other classes of device so maybe you meant to say it is not exclusively for desktop devices.
– Richm
Nov 27 '11 at 17:48
@Richm, Thanks for pointing it out. I have corrected it in the answer.
– Sachin Divekar
Nov 27 '11 at 18:06
@Richm, Thanks for pointing it out. I have corrected it in the answer.
– Sachin Divekar
Nov 27 '11 at 18:06
On Linux/UNIX platforms the desktop is a set of applications that use the kernel services. This make it easy to add, swap, or remove desktops. Servers often replace the desktop with a terminal shell.
– BillThor
Nov 27 '11 at 18:23
On Linux/UNIX platforms the desktop is a set of applications that use the kernel services. This make it easy to add, swap, or remove desktops. Servers often replace the desktop with a terminal shell.
– BillThor
Nov 27 '11 at 18:23
Isn't a "phone" just some form of desktop? :-p
– johannes
Nov 27 '11 at 19:53
Isn't a "phone" just some form of desktop? :-p
– johannes
Nov 27 '11 at 19:53
Note that Android originally used a heavily modified version of the linux kernel, but as of 3.5 a lot of featured are merged back into the main kernel. Android 4.4 currently runs on much less patched Linux 3.4 kernel (an long term release)
– dtech
Dec 13 '13 at 19:54
Note that Android originally used a heavily modified version of the linux kernel, but as of 3.5 a lot of featured are merged back into the main kernel. Android 4.4 currently runs on much less patched Linux 3.4 kernel (an long term release)
– dtech
Dec 13 '13 at 19:54
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
6
down vote
Yes, as do many other embedded devices. Many routers also use a Linux based OS, as, like Sachin said, it is easily customizable.
Here is a Xubuntu screenshot of mine, Running mksh and Android kernel 3.0.8+ (From the Android x86 sources)
edited Feb 27 '14 at 13:59
mirabilos
1,198826
answered Dec 13 '13 at 18:10
Jonathan
6111
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
Yes, as do many other embedded devices. Many routers also use a Linux based OS, as, like Sachin said, it is easily customizable.
Here is a Xubuntu screenshot of mine, Running mksh and Android kernel 3.0.8+ (From the Android x86 sources)
edited Feb 27 '14 at 13:59
mirabilos
1,198826
answered Dec 13 '13 at 18:10
Jonathan
6111
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
Yes, as do many other embedded devices. Many routers also use a Linux based OS, as, like Sachin said, it is easily customizable.
Here is a Xubuntu screenshot of mine, Running mksh and Android kernel 3.0.8+ (From the Android x86 sources)
edited Feb 27 '14 at 13:59
mirabilos
1,198826
answered Dec 13 '13 at 18:10
Jonathan
6111
Yes, as do many other embedded devices. Many routers also use a Linux based OS, as, like Sachin said, it is easily customizable.
Here is a Xubuntu screenshot of mine, Running mksh and Android kernel 3.0.8+ (From the Android x86 sources)
edited Feb 27 '14 at 13:59
mirabilos
1,198826
answered Dec 13 '13 at 18:10
Jonathan
6111
edited Feb 27 '14 at 13:59
mirabilos
1,198826
edited Feb 27 '14 at 13:59
mirabilos
1,198826
edited Feb 27 '14 at 13:59
mirabilos
1,198826
1,198826
answered Dec 13 '13 at 18:10
Jonathan
6111
answered Dec 13 '13 at 18:10
Jonathan
6111
answered Dec 13 '13 at 18:10
Jonathan
6111
6111
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Yes and no (depending on what you mean by Linux)
There is a lot of confusion around the name Linux; It if often used to refer to two different things.
It the case of android, and some other cases. It refers to a Kernel named Linux. A small but essential part of an operating system. A kernel controls the hardware and provides services to the rest of the system. (see nice diagram answer of @Sachin Divekar).
In the case of almost all desktop systems it refers to X11+Gnu+Linux. See the diagram again, but remove all references to phone, telephony and android. Now change Application Framework to Gnu Tools, add a layer called X11, and another called Gnome or Kde etc. Then put application back on top. For servers there is usually no X11 or Kde/Gnome, as a graphical user interface is a waist of resources.
Android does not use X11 (though it can, but not to run android apps) or the Gnu Tool. However like Gnu+Linux some of the libraries are Gnu.
It is often difficult to know which meaning someone has when they say Linux. This is why it is recommended to say “Gnu/Linux†when you mean Gnu+Linux, and “Linux kernelâ€Â, as you did, for the kernel. However don't say kernel, unless you know what one is (I have heard people add the word kernel in front of Linux (because they were told that is the correct term), bet they were using it to refer to Gnu+Linux.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 9:26
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Yes and no (depending on what you mean by Linux)
There is a lot of confusion around the name Linux; It if often used to refer to two different things.
It the case of android, and some other cases. It refers to a Kernel named Linux. A small but essential part of an operating system. A kernel controls the hardware and provides services to the rest of the system. (see nice diagram answer of @Sachin Divekar).
In the case of almost all desktop systems it refers to X11+Gnu+Linux. See the diagram again, but remove all references to phone, telephony and android. Now change Application Framework to Gnu Tools, add a layer called X11, and another called Gnome or Kde etc. Then put application back on top. For servers there is usually no X11 or Kde/Gnome, as a graphical user interface is a waist of resources.
Android does not use X11 (though it can, but not to run android apps) or the Gnu Tool. However like Gnu+Linux some of the libraries are Gnu.
It is often difficult to know which meaning someone has when they say Linux. This is why it is recommended to say “Gnu/Linux†when you mean Gnu+Linux, and “Linux kernelâ€Â, as you did, for the kernel. However don't say kernel, unless you know what one is (I have heard people add the word kernel in front of Linux (because they were told that is the correct term), bet they were using it to refer to Gnu+Linux.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 9:26
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Yes and no (depending on what you mean by Linux)
There is a lot of confusion around the name Linux; It if often used to refer to two different things.
It the case of android, and some other cases. It refers to a Kernel named Linux. A small but essential part of an operating system. A kernel controls the hardware and provides services to the rest of the system. (see nice diagram answer of @Sachin Divekar).
In the case of almost all desktop systems it refers to X11+Gnu+Linux. See the diagram again, but remove all references to phone, telephony and android. Now change Application Framework to Gnu Tools, add a layer called X11, and another called Gnome or Kde etc. Then put application back on top. For servers there is usually no X11 or Kde/Gnome, as a graphical user interface is a waist of resources.
Android does not use X11 (though it can, but not to run android apps) or the Gnu Tool. However like Gnu+Linux some of the libraries are Gnu.
It is often difficult to know which meaning someone has when they say Linux. This is why it is recommended to say “Gnu/Linux†when you mean Gnu+Linux, and “Linux kernelâ€Â, as you did, for the kernel. However don't say kernel, unless you know what one is (I have heard people add the word kernel in front of Linux (because they were told that is the correct term), bet they were using it to refer to Gnu+Linux.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 9:26
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
Yes and no (depending on what you mean by Linux)
There is a lot of confusion around the name Linux; It if often used to refer to two different things.
It the case of android, and some other cases. It refers to a Kernel named Linux. A small but essential part of an operating system. A kernel controls the hardware and provides services to the rest of the system. (see nice diagram answer of @Sachin Divekar).
In the case of almost all desktop systems it refers to X11+Gnu+Linux. See the diagram again, but remove all references to phone, telephony and android. Now change Application Framework to Gnu Tools, add a layer called X11, and another called Gnome or Kde etc. Then put application back on top. For servers there is usually no X11 or Kde/Gnome, as a graphical user interface is a waist of resources.
Android does not use X11 (though it can, but not to run android apps) or the Gnu Tool. However like Gnu+Linux some of the libraries are Gnu.
It is often difficult to know which meaning someone has when they say Linux. This is why it is recommended to say “Gnu/Linux†when you mean Gnu+Linux, and “Linux kernelâ€Â, as you did, for the kernel. However don't say kernel, unless you know what one is (I have heard people add the word kernel in front of Linux (because they were told that is the correct term), bet they were using it to refer to Gnu+Linux.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 9:26
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
edited 40 mins ago
answered Jun 16 '14 at 9:26
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
answered Jun 16 '14 at 9:26
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
answered Jun 16 '14 at 9:26
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
9,38231948
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is not just embedded and desktops where you will find the Linux Kernel.
- 490 of the top 500 super computers are running, the full, Gnu/Linux.
- Around 80% of web servers are running Gnu/Linux.
- Most of the internet infrastructure is running Gnu/Linux or are embedded devices. Of these embedded devices, a large proportion will have the kernel named Linux.
answered May 14 '15 at 18:17
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
1
It's now all 500 top supercomputers running Linux.
– DRS David Soft
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is not just embedded and desktops where you will find the Linux Kernel.
- 490 of the top 500 super computers are running, the full, Gnu/Linux.
- Around 80% of web servers are running Gnu/Linux.
- Most of the internet infrastructure is running Gnu/Linux or are embedded devices. Of these embedded devices, a large proportion will have the kernel named Linux.
answered May 14 '15 at 18:17
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
1
It's now all 500 top supercomputers running Linux.
– DRS David Soft
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
It is not just embedded and desktops where you will find the Linux Kernel.
- 490 of the top 500 super computers are running, the full, Gnu/Linux.
- Around 80% of web servers are running Gnu/Linux.
- Most of the internet infrastructure is running Gnu/Linux or are embedded devices. Of these embedded devices, a large proportion will have the kernel named Linux.
answered May 14 '15 at 18:17
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
It is not just embedded and desktops where you will find the Linux Kernel.
- 490 of the top 500 super computers are running, the full, Gnu/Linux.
- Around 80% of web servers are running Gnu/Linux.
- Most of the internet infrastructure is running Gnu/Linux or are embedded devices. Of these embedded devices, a large proportion will have the kernel named Linux.
answered May 14 '15 at 18:17
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
answered May 14 '15 at 18:17
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
answered May 14 '15 at 18:17
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
answered May 14 '15 at 18:17
ctrl-alt-delor
9,38231948
9,38231948
1
It's now all 500 top supercomputers running Linux.
– DRS David Soft
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1
It's now all 500 top supercomputers running Linux.
– DRS David Soft
4 hours ago
1
1
It's now all 500 top supercomputers running Linux.
– DRS David Soft
4 hours ago
It's now all 500 top supercomputers running Linux.
– DRS David Soft
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
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12
The Linux kernel is used on a lot of embedded devices. Android is borderline between embedded and desktop, there are far smaller devices running Linux.
– Gilles
Nov 27 '11 at 20:12
15
Modern phones are basically desktops with small displays. If you compare them to the desktops of ten years ago (which ran Linux just fine), you'll find the phones beat the older desktops on almost every specification.
– David Schwartz
Nov 28 '11 at 0:44
2
Probably important to emphasize three things - 1) the customizability of the Linux kernel - there's a lot that can be configured differently according to expected use or omitted if not needed, and 2) the kernel is generally just one component (albeit near or is the "bottom level" component) in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience, whether desktop, phone, server, or anything else. The majority of what makes Android "Android" is not the kernel, as you can tell from below, and 3) phone hardware is really powerful these days.
– LawrenceC
Sep 16 '12 at 17:41
@ultrasawblade said the kernel is responsible for user facing experience. This is not true. The user looks down on the stack, the components at the bottom are the most hidden. In Debian a popular Gnu+Linux, you can use the a bsd kernel making Gnu+bsd. It does not change things much from the users point of view. A system admin may see A difference if her tools do not hide this difference for her.
– ctrl-alt-delor
Jun 16 '14 at 9:36
I said "the kernel is generally just one component in a stack of software ultimately responsible for a user-facing experience" - means not that the kernel's responsible for it entirely but is just playing a part.
– LawrenceC
Jun 16 '14 at 10:41