Linux kernel

The Linux kernel is the core of Linux-based operating systems, managing hardware, memory, processes, and device access while providing services to programs.

System call: A system call is a controlled request by a program for a service from the operating-system kernel. System calls are the main boundary through which user programs request kernel services.
Operating system: An operating system manages computer hardware and provides common services for application programs. The Linux kernel is the central component of an operating system, not the entire user-facing system.
Linus Torvalds: Linus Torvalds is a Finnish-American software engineer who created the Linux kernel and led its development. Torvalds began the kernel project in 1991 and remains its maintainer.
Android (operating system): Android is a mobile operating system built on a modified Linux kernel and a software platform maintained by Google. Android uses the Linux kernel for core hardware and process management.
Windows NT kernel: The Windows NT kernel is the core of Microsoft's Windows NT family of operating systems. It is a widely used kernel built within a different operating-system architecture and development model.
Process scheduling: Process scheduling selects which runnable process or thread uses a processor and for how long. The scheduler allocates processor time among tasks managed by the kernel.
Kernel (operating system): A kernel is the privileged core of an operating system that mediates access to hardware and system resources. Linux is one implementation of the broader operating-system kernel concept.
Linux kernel mailing list: The Linux kernel mailing list is a major forum where developers discuss kernel patches and development decisions. Kernel development relies on public technical review and discussion on the list.
Linux on embedded systems: Linux on embedded systems is the use of the Linux kernel in dedicated devices with specialized hardware and functions. Configurable kernels support routers, appliances, industrial controllers, and other embedded devices.
XNU: XNU is the hybrid kernel used by Apple's operating systems, combining Mach, BSD, and I/O Kit components. Apple's kernel provides a prominent alternative to Linux in desktop and mobile systems.

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