this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2026
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Linux

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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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[–] beyond@linkage.ds8.zone 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

You never needed a VM to run Linux apps on Android. Android can run Linux apps because it is already a Linux operating system. This is like referring to a docker container as "running Linux on Debian" or whatever.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

docker is technically running linux on debian though

[–] beyond@linkage.ds8.zone 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If by Linux you mean "literally everything except Linux" though, then sure. But I prefer to say what I mean and mean what I say

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

wait, is docker not running a linux environment?

[–] beyond@linkage.ds8.zone 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Linux, the kernel, is the thing that containers run on top of. The container does not actually contain an instance of Linux, it shares it with the host.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago

yes, it's another complete operating system with a shared kernel. a lot of more complete full-fledged virtualization software does similar stuff.