What's the relationship between a Linux OS and a kernel?

Question

I\'ve been using Linux for several years, but never stepped beyond installing from a CD/DVD. If the app manager didn\'t have what I was looking for in the software, then I was a

Answer 1

"kernel" and "shell" are the original terms, as in let's say "core" and "shell". "Shell" is the command interpreter. "Distro" is a term that means a customized shell(s) + specific programs included in that distribution. One distribution might several shells though. From a user perspective this is close to the concept of human language. Is the language that you have to talk to the terminal which will talk to shell. Shell will read it and look for a file within the filestore (still inside the shell/ distro). Once the file (executable) is found, shell sends this to the kernel which does the job (process). Think of a car which will have the same basically unmodified engine over many years but will change its frame/ body. I think I need to stop here...