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Linux Vocabulary to clear your doubts

Posted by sudhirmangla July 4, 2008

I’ve seen many people here ask what a distro is or what KDE is many times. Hopefully this topic will clear those questions up. The words are categorized.

Beginner Linux Vocabulary

Distro – Short for Distribution, a distro is a set of programs combined with the linux kernel to create an operating system.
Kernel – The core of Linux. The kernel is what controls the hardware and is what every linux distro is built upon. The latest kernel to the date of this writing is 2.6.11. Using the term Linux refers to the kernel, not an operating system as Linux is not an operating system but the kernel per se. Linux is typically misused in this manner.
Bash – Bourne Again Shell is a command line in Linux. This is where most of the linux work is done like installing programs and configuring the system. If a Linux Distro didnt come installed with a GUI, it will typically boot into this.
Root – The ruler of all Linux systems. This is a user that you have access to that can do anything to a linux system. It is highly reccomended that you don’t use root as it can damage a system if used incorrectly.
Linus Torvalds – The one who wrote the linux kernel in 1991.
Sudo – Stands for Super User DO, allows a user to have root access without logging in as root.
Software Vocabulary
Compile – Installing an application from it’s source code. Another name for this word is build.
Source – The actual code that a program is coded in.
Binary – Usually a program or package that is encoded in binary(the 0’s and the 1’s), another term for this is machine language.
Package – A piece of Software like gtfp.
Dependency – A package that a package depends upon to work.


Package Manager Vocabulary)

apt – Debian linux’s packaging system. Apt uses .deb files. Apt is most popular for it’s extension, apt-get(see below)
apt-get – An extension of Debian’s apt package manager. Apt-get employs the search and get method found in todays package managers
Portage – Gentoo Linux’s packaging system. Portage is more powerful for it’s ability to customize it in so many ways for almost any need. Alot of users pick Gentoo just for Portage. Portage compiles programs by source.
YaST – Yet Another Setup Tool is SuSE’s front end to it’s package manager. YaST is also used to manage the settings and aspects of the system.
RPM – Redhat Package Manager is among the widely used package manager. Originally created by Redhat, it’s now used by a handful of Linux Distributions including but not limited to Fedora, Mandriva, SUSE and more.
Pacman – Arch Linux’s Package Manager. Allows a user to install apps with 1 command from the terminal. Name has no meaning
Ports – A BSD package manager for which was Portage(see above) is based off of. Installs software from source.
Yum – Yellow dog Updater, Modified. Yum is a package management utility used by several distributions including Fedora for RPM and centOS.
Graphical User Interface Vocabulary
Desktop Environment – DE for short, are numerous applications bundled together in a packge to provide the user with a nice working environment to use the computer. Typically comes with Window Manager(see below). The 2 most popular DE’s are KDE and GNOME.
Window Manager – A program that draws Windows to the screen but does not come with any applications or such, typcially bundled in DE’s(see above). A popular one is Metacity for GNOME.
XOrg/Xfree86 – Xorg/Xfree86 are programs that give Linux the ability to have GUI. These are I repeat NOT Desktop Environments or Window Managers! Every program with a GUI requires 1 of these 2 programs to run.
KDE – K Desktop Environment is an environment that lets users browse the net, use apps, and such. Many users of KDE feel it has a Windows feel to it. For more info on KDE visit http://kde.org
Gnome – GNU Object Model Environment is environment like KDE but is more professional looking and doesn’t go for all the eyecandy KDE has. For more info on Gnome vist http://gnome.org
XFCE – A Desktop Environment based off of GTK and GNOME, mucher lighter compared to KDE and GNOME, good for older systems.
Fluxbox – A window manager aiming to be lightweight. Fluxbox features a minimal but customizable GUI. Fluxbox is usually favored for older systems that cant handle KDE and GNOME. Fluxbox is currently used in Damn Small Linux.
Compbiz/Beryl – A Window manager that gives a desktop environment several special effects just as wiggling windows and transparencies and more. Compiz/Beryl are fairly new.
Bootloader Vocabulary
Bootloader – A bootloader is a app that typically resides in your MBR(Master Boot Record). It allows you to select what os to boot on startup.
Master Boot Record – The Master Boot Record or MBR is the 1st few MB on your hard drive. It typically tells what the hard drive should boot aka Linux or Windows. Most times when using Linux a Bootloader resides here.
Grub – GRand Unified Bootloader is a bootloader that allows you to set boot options and additional features at startup. This is the most popular bootloader.
LILO – Linux Loader is a generic bootloader. It’s feature limited when compared to Grub. The most popular distro use LILO by default is Slackware.

Advanced Linux Vocabulary

Toolkit – A set of tools usually used to compile programs or make them.
GTK – A toolkit for X11 for creating GUI’s. Used by GNOME, XFCE and many other Desktop Envirments and Apps.
QT Toolkit – A toolkit for X11 for creating GUI’s, rivals GTK. Used by KDE and many other DE’s + Apps.
Xorgconfig – A utility bundled in X11 that allows a user to configure X11. Usually done from the terminal.

dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg/xfree86 – Debian doesnt use Xorgconfig per se but uses a different configuration utility for the Window System. This utility does the same as Xorgconfig pretty much.

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