Thread: General questions about Linux
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andree is offline andree
2009-11-15 , 21:05
Posts: 119 | Thanked: 110 times | Joined on Sep 2009 @ Prague
#4
Originally Posted by cheetos316 View Post
Is Linux technically an OS or a type of computer language, since there are so many different Linux distros?
Linux is only a operating system kernel; linux distributions are complete systems containing linux kernel and many other software packages (e.g. desktop interfaces, web browsers) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_distribution

Originally Posted by cheetos316 View Post
If Linux is an OS, then how is it that there are so many different kindsof Linux distros? And on that note, what is the difference between Debian, Symbian, Maemo, and Android, since they are all based on the same Linux?
They all contain different set of preinstalled software, are targeted towards other use-cases (symbian ain't linux ), contain somehow different configuration tools... This is too wide and flameable topic... .)

Originally Posted by cheetos316 View Post
If a device has one OS, is it possible to install another different OS on there (ie. Motorola Droid comes with Android, can it be flashed to run Maemo)? If not, why is that?
Though it's not currently too common, it could be possible in near future - the same way e.g. linux is able to run on most of hardware windows can run on... I've run linux minidistro and android (which is basically linux kernel + java-like GUI on top) on my win-mobile device recently no phone functionality just yet though...

Originally Posted by cheetos316 View Post
I've been reading up on the Maemo vs. Android debate and a recurring theme is that Maemo is more "open." How is Maemo more "open" when both Android and Maemo are Linux based, which is completely open?
there is too much discussion about this on the internet - use google

Originally Posted by cheetos316 View Post
Lastly, how is it possible that Linux is capable of running on both x86 architecture devices and ARM architecture devices? Isn't the x86 and ARM instruction set completely different? And if I'm not mistaken, Linux is also used in PowerPC machines too.
it's all about coding style - once you write portable code (which is very common in open source development), the porting to other architecture is as simple as compiling C code with different compiler... of course, there is some architecture-depedent stuff in the kernel, but huge parts of it are platform-independent...
 

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