In a standard Linux system, the root user has access to the entire system,
some special logins have access to control particular services (such as Apache for Web
services), and users can be assigned permission individually or in groups. Recent features
such as Security Enhanced Linux and AppArmor enable more refined tuning and protection
in highly secure computing environments.
What I have just described are components that are primarily managed by what is referred to as
the Linux kernel. In fact, the Linux kernel (which was created and is still maintained by Linus
Torvalds) is what gives Linux its name. The kernel is the software that starts up when you boot
your computer and interfaces with the programs you use so they can communicate effectively and
simply with your computer hardware.
Components such as administrative commands and applications from other free and open source
software projects work with the kernel to make Linux a complete operating system. The GNU
Project, in particular, contributed many implementations of standard UNIX components that are
now in Linux. Apache, KDE, GNOME, and other major open source projects in Linux, discussed a
bit later, have also contributed to the success of Linux. Those other projects added such things as:
Graphical user interfaces (GUIs)??”Consisting of a graphical framework (typically the
X Window System), window managers, panels, icons, and menus.
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