Delving into Linux History, Shells, and Commands - Week Five

The Linux kernel is the core part of the operating system, responsible for managing system resources and enabling communication between hardware and software components. The GNU Project, started by Richard Stallman in 1984, aimed to create a collection of free software but lacked a kernel. The combination of Linus Torvalds' Linux kernel with the GNU components resulted in a fully functional operating system, commonly referred to as GNU/Linux. Unix-like systems, including Linux, follow the principles of Unix but are not certified as Unix. Shells serve as command interpreters, executing user commands and acting as an interface between the user and the kernel. Popular shells include Bash, Zsh, and fish, each offering unique features and customization options. Essential Linux commands cover file manipulation, process management, system monitoring, and more, including whoami, man, clear, pwd, ls, cd, mkdir, touch, and rm. Output redirection, sorting and searching, system monitoring, compression and archiving, text editors, user and permission management, and file permissions are also crucial concepts in Linux. Linux families include the Red Hat family, SUSE family, and Debian family, each with their own distributions and features. Mastering Linux concepts is critical for anyone pursuing a career in cloud engineering or system administration.