What's a kernel?
I tried to describe a kernel in jargon-free english today. It was pretty tough. Welcome to your new Linux Distro. Linux is the word we use to define a collection of software ( programmes ) that you copy on to your hard disk ( that metal thing inside your computer that uses magnetic magic to store a series of ones and zeros otherwise known as binary ) so that when you turn on your computer something useful will happen. The most important part of linux is the kernel. This is the programme and other resources that tell the different parts of your computer to do something. For example when you open your text editor programme, something has to tell the hard disk to start spinning around and then it needs to tell it how to retrieve the specific ones and zeros that define the text editor programme. Then the text editor programme is loaded into memory ( RAM ) which will then take control. The text editor programme will now tell the kernel to display something on the screen. The kernel