this post was submitted on 03 Jun 2024
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Linux
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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The tree refers to the Linux kernel Git repo. On Linux normally all drivers are in there.
I think that is a pretty crazy concept, but it kinda gives trust and if it is in there is will likely not break.
Out of tree means the driver is not compiled in (like BTRFS on RHEL distros) or cannot even be included as it is proprietary or else (NVIDIA, Displaylink, Virtualbox).
These drivers are added locally using
kmodsORakmods, I dont know the difference and never used it.uBlue adds some drivers during the build process which is pretty cool. So even though it is out of tree, it gets centrally included and if it breaks you dont get the update.
Hmm... Why is this so much more difficult on Linux than Windows then? On Windows I just updated the driver through the GeForce Experience thing (which is annoying just because it requires a sign in). What am I missing?
Windows is a single OS, with a LOOT of late stage capitalist market monopoly. It is a single OS.
Also the drivers on Windows are not in the kernel, which I think is actually a pretty good thing for security.
But as userspace is always different in the various Linux Distros, vendors just stopped doing that, which is a shame.
Ah okay, I see now. Isn't the term microkernel or something? But yes, I do remember hearing everything was in the kernel for Linux (even prior to this discussion).
Yes minix, hurd, RedoxOS are all (using) microkernels.
Most projects didnt succeed but RedoxOS is interesting.
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