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Getting Started with AnduinOS

AnduinOS is based on Linux. Linux is an operating system. It is open-source and free. It is also very powerful and flexible. You can use Linux for many purposes. However, that requires you to learn how to use it. This guide will help you to get started with Linux.

Basic Concepts

To effectively use Linux, it's essential to understand some fundamental concepts:

  • Kernel: The core of the operating system, managing hardware resources and enabling communication between hardware and software.
  • Processes: Instances of running programs, each with its own memory space and execution context.
  • Files: The basic units of storage in Linux, organized in a hierarchical directory structure.
  • udev: The device manager for the Linux kernel, responsible for managing device nodes in the /dev directory.
  • Users: Individuals or entities that interact with the system, each with specific permissions and access levels.
  • Groups: Collections of users with shared permissions, simplifying access control and management.
  • Permissions: Rules that define who can access, modify, or execute files and directories.
  • Environment Variables: Dynamic values that affect the behavior of processes and programs.
  • Shell: The command-line interface for interacting with the system, executing commands and scripts.
  • Package Managers: Tools for installing, updating, and managing software packages on the system.
  • Systemd: A system and service manager for Linux, responsible for managing system processes and services.
  • Networking: The configuration and management of network interfaces, enabling communication between systems.

Everything is a File

One of the most powerful and unifying concepts in Linux is that everything is a file. This philosophy simplifies the interaction with various system components by treating them uniformly. Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

  • Regular Files: Text documents, images, and executables stored in the filesystem.
ls -l /home/user/Documents
  • Devices: Hardware components like hard drives, USB devices, and network interfaces are represented as device files in /dev.
ls -l /dev/sda

You can format and mount a disk using the following commands:

  mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1
  mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data

In the meantime, a single file can also be treated as a disk and it's totally equivalent to a real disk. You can create a file and mount it as a disk:

dd if=/dev/zero of=disk.img bs=1M count=1
mkfs.ext4 disk.img
mount disk.img /mnt/data2
  • Pipes and Sockets: Inter-process communication mechanisms are treated as files, allowing processes to read from and write to them.
mkfifo mypipe
  • System Information: Virtual files in /proc and /sys provide real-time system and kernel information.
cat /proc/cpuinfo
cat /sys/class/net/eth0/address

Further Exploration

AnduinOS incorporates a wide array of technologies that enhance its functionality and versatility:

  • Containers: Lightweight, portable units for deploying applications consistently across environments.
  • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine): A virtualization solution integrated into the Linux kernel, enabling the creation of virtual machines.
  • Wine: A compatibility layer that allows running Windows applications on Linux.
  • Package Management: Tools for installing, updating, and managing software packages efficiently.
  • Terminal: A powerful interface for interacting with the system through commands.

To maintain and optimize your AnduinOS system, it's crucial to understand various system management techniques:

Building Your Own Kernel

Linux's open-source nature invites users to contribute and develop their own solutions.

Don't be afraid, building your kernel is easy!

Usually, stable kernels are easy to build. You can build your own kernel in 5 simple steps.

In some cases, for example:

  • When the current Kernel doesn't support your hardware. (e.g. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sound, etc.)
  • When you need to add a new feature to the Kernel.
  • When you need to remove some Kernel features to reduce the Kernel size.
  • When you want to have better performance by optimizing the Kernel for your hardware.
  • When you want to learn how the Kernel works.

You may need to build your own Kernel.

You can follow the guide to build your own Kernel.

Enjoy AnduinOS

AnduinOS is a powerful and versatile operating system that can be tailored to suit your specific needs. By exploring its features and capabilities, you can unlock its full potential and leverage its flexibility to enhance your computing experience. Whether you're a seasoned Linux user or new to the platform, AnduinOS offers a rich ecosystem of tools and resources to support your journey and empower you to achieve your goals.