🔍 How Does Linux Actually Work? A Deep Dive from the Basics 🐧

Whether you're running containers, managing cloud infrastructure, or deploying AI models — chances are, Linux is the silent engine underneath. Here's a foundational breakdown of how Linux operates, demystified for developers and DevOps practitioners.👇

🧠 1. What is Linux?

Linux is a UNIX-like, open-source operating system kernel developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. When combined with GNU tools and libraries, it forms a complete OS used across servers, desktops, smartphones, and embedded systems.

🔁 2. Boot Process: How Linux Starts

When a Linux system boots, here’s what happens step by step:

1. BIOS/UEFI initializes the hardware.
2. Bootloader (GRUB/LILO) loads the Linux kernel into memory.
3. The kernel initializes hardware drivers, mounts the root filesystem, and starts init or systemd.
4. Systemd spawns all essential services and user-space daemons.

This chain ensures that hardware ↔ kernel ↔ user space are properly connected.

🧱 3. The Kernel: The Brain of Linux

The Linux kernel manages:

• Process Scheduling – allocates CPU time to processes.
• Memory Management – handles RAM and swap usage.
• Device Drivers – interfaces with hardware (storage, network, USB).