Linux is a kernel for OS. See, I told you what Linux is. I did it!
this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2026
654 points (98.8% liked)
linuxmemes
30560 readers
2282 users here now
Hint: :q!
Sister communities:
Community rules (click to expand)
1. Follow the site-wide rules
- Instance-wide TOS: https://legal.lemmy.world/tos/
- Lemmy code of conduct: https://join-lemmy.org/docs/code_of_conduct.html
2. Be civil
- Understand the difference between a joke and an insult.
- Do not harrass or attack users for any reason. This includes using blanket terms, like "every user of thing".
- Don't get baited into back-and-forth insults. We are not animals.
- Leave remarks of "peasantry" to the PCMR community. If you dislike an OS/service/application, attack the thing you dislike, not the individuals who use it. Some people may not have a choice.
- Bigotry will not be tolerated.
3. Post Linux-related content
- Including Unix and BSD.
- Non-Linux content is acceptable as long as it makes a reference to Linux. For example, the poorly made mockery of
sudoin Windows. - No porn, no politics, no trolling or ragebaiting.
- Don't come looking for advice, this is not the right community.
4. No recent reposts
- Everybody uses Arch btw, can't quit Vim, <loves/tolerates/hates> systemd, and wants to interject for a moment. You can stop now.
5. π¬π§ Language/ΡΠ·ΡΠΊ/Sprache
- This is primarily an English-speaking community. π¬π§π¦πΊπΊπΈ
- Comments written in other languages are allowed.
- The substance of a post should be comprehensible for people who only speak English.
- Titles and post bodies written in other languages will be allowed, but only as long as the above rule is observed.
6. (NEW!) Regarding public figures
We all have our opinions, and certain public figures can be divisive. Keep in mind that this is a community for memes and light-hearted fun, not for airing grievances or leveling accusations. - Keep discussions polite and free of disparagement.
- We are never in possession of all of the facts. Defamatory comments will not be tolerated.
- Discussions that get too heated will be locked and offending comments removed. Β
Please report posts and comments that break these rules!
Important: never execute code or follow advice that you don't understand or can't verify, especially here. The word of the day is credibility. This is a meme community -- even the most helpful comments might just be shitposts that can damage your system. Be aware, be smart, don't remove France.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Maybe Morpheus meant that no one can explain it and also be believed. π
Maybe the real matrix was the friends we made along the way.
I know it is an obvious term for you techbros, but kernel means nothing to your average person though. I would doubt most of them would even know what an OS is (especially abbreviated like that).
Explanation for dummies: Linux is a launcher of computer programs.
So it's like the start menu? (j/k)
Naah!
It's what starts the start menu.
So it's an init system?
It's what the init system goes to, to do the real work.
It's an init system for an init system.
Thanks for the lol of today.
Oh like a slingshot for floppies?
An OS is basically a broker of hardware resources for applications. And usually ships with some of its own applications. Thatβs a pretty fair explanation?
load more comments
(3 replies)
It's a government agency in the United Kingdom called the Ordnance Survey. They make all the maps.
I was originally set up to help defend against catholic rebellions so it is historically linked to the army. That's probably where the Colonel comes in to it.
load more comments
(2 replies)
Yeah, but... but... like, but... if you just explain it, you'll put people off. You've got to get them to install it first so that they get hooked.
Now eat this random pill I found
no.. you misu.. I have not just found it, of course! I am bringing it from the most delicate source of pills!
It's not only for operating systems, though.
Itβs not only for operating systems, though.
What else? I can hardly imagine using Linux for something except OS.
Maybe they mean embedded systems where full OS isn't required. Just the kernel and busybox.
Still working on the documentation eh?
Linux is like windows but not corporate and nerds lovingly made it and you have lots of choice and freedom and there's a penguin and a fox girl and she's trans
checkmate it was super easy
Then Ubuntu is Corporate Nerd Windows.
Absolutely
If Ubuntu is Corporate Nerd Windows..
What is RedHat then? Just Corpo Windows without the nerd part?
Ubuntu is the corporate business owner that got its starting capital from running a brick-and-mortar shop.
RHEL is the offspring of corporate business owners with generational wealth.
Ubuntu...
Live boot isos are also available
You take the red pill, you wake up to the real world.
You take the blue pill, you keep dreaming.
You take the green pill, you just get to⦠try reality out?
It's important to make sure reality is compatible with your hardware.
As long as your hardware doesn't say geforce anywhere.
I had this old pc with an old nvidia card, before installation everything worked smoothly, great! Install, reboot, this card is not supported.
Yeah. If Cyrus knew that, he wouldn't have had to reinstall vista, by turning on all his buds
There is no Windows.
I'll just die instead, thanks Morph
Would you like copilot to upload your death to onedrive for βenhanced productivityβ?
Let's ask Richard Stallman to explain Linux.
Linux... snacks on something from his foot is not an operating system itself. It is merely the kernel, a part of the GNU slash Linux, or, as I've recently started to call it, GNU plus Linux operating system.
Can't. He's in Dorcia and they won't let us in.
Linux is frustration, but it will set you free.
Did it make him go bald?
view more: next βΊ