Chapter 2. Getting to know Linux
The previous chapter was an introduction to this book, and now that introductions are out of the way we get to have fun learning Linux! This chapter will walk you through the concept of distributions and repositories. We talk about Linux as this monolithic concept, but it’s actually several different types of structures built on one common core, the Linux kernel. At the end of today’s lunch you’ll understand all of that, allowing us to spend the rest of the book working with our specific systems.
Distributions, or distros, are flavors of Linux. Distributions take the Linux kernel (I’ll talk about the kernel in a minute) and build upon it, crafting an experience for the user, selecting certain software and making certain technical choices. This includes
- What software is included in that distribution’s repositories (the equivalent of the Windows App Store or the iTunes store for Mac)
- The software versions available within those repositories
- How that software might be implemented on the user’s system