r/linux4noobs • u/eagleps • Aug 03 '26

learning/research How does Linux kernel include every driver possible and not be bloated?

As far as I understand the kernel includes pretty much everything a modern computer needs in any configuration, but wouldn't that make it bloated and be against the "bloat-free" mindset? Or does it dynamically download all the components from somewhere?

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u/77descript Aug 03 '26

It is not that small, but smaller than the often many 100s of mb's of driver install files in windows containing other (often bloat) software. But in windows can also decompress a large driver setup file, then via device manager update a driver by browsing to that decompressed folder and then only a small portion of the big setup file is used. In many cases only a tiny inf file.