Summary | Spring Into Linux

Linux is an operating systemsoftware that runs your computer. When you work on your computer, the interface provides the communication between you and the Linux kernel, the part of Linux where the low-level work takes place. The kernel communicates directly with the hardware to save files on the hard disk, send data streams to the printer, send information out onto the network, and other basic tasks. Your instructions are accepted by the interface, processed, and passed into the kernel. Linux provides two types of interface that you can use to send instructions: a graphical user interface (GUI) and a command-line interface (CLI).

The GUI provides graphical images that can be selected with the mouse. One popular GUI is a desktop, made popular by Windows. A desktop is designed to represent the top of your office deska work space with tools on it. Linux offers two popular desktop environments: GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment) and KDE (K Desktop Environment). Because both emulate a desktop, they are similar in many ways. Both resemble Windows and provide the same features, such as windows, icons, menus, etc. The differences between GNOME and KDE are mainly in the administrative utilities, the tools for configuring the desktop, and the default applications chosen for installation with the desktop. Which desktop you use is mainly a matter of personal preference. You may want to try both GNOME and KDE before you decide. Using a desktop is discussed in Chapter 6.

The CLI is a text environment. You type commands for Linux to execute and Linux displays text messages in response. When you are working with the CLI, you are interacting with a program called a shell. The shell accepts your commands, processes them, and passes them into the kernel. Using the command-line interface is discussed in detail in Chapter 7.

Linux can open a desktop at startup or boot directly in to a command-line environment. Most users prefer Linux to start with a desktop. When the user wants to use the command line, he or she opens a CLI window.