Kernel
The Kernel is the central component of a computer’s operating system that manages hardware, software and processes. It is responsible for allocating resources and communication between programs and hardware components. The Linux kernel is a popular kernel that is used in many types of computers.
The kernel is the first program executed when a computer begins the boot process. It is responsible for providing the interface between user applications and hardware devices. It is also responsible for handling memory and input/output operations.
Kernel developers strive for efficiency, speed and reliability. A kernel may include multiple sub-components, such as device drivers, memory management, system calls and virtual memory management. It is also capable of packet filtering, firewalling, network address translation, port forwarding and source routing.
Kernel developers must be knowledgeable in operating systems, assembly language, computer architecture, logic and computer networks. They must have an understanding of the interactions between hardware and software components.
The Linux kernel is the most widely used kernel with millions of installations around the world. It is also the kernel used in Android devices and many Apple products. Other popular kernels include Windows, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and Solaris.
