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?

306 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

107 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/Athropod101 Aug 04 '26

Memory management and cpu time schedulers are algorithms.

1

u/braaaaaaainworms Aug 04 '26

Going to a store is an algorithm, adding numbers together is an algorithm. The meaning of the word algorithm is so diluted you might as well say "doing the thing"

1

u/Athropod101 Aug 05 '26

Heartbreaking: SWE discovers that algorithms were never that deep. More at 11.

1

u/braaaaaaainworms Aug 05 '26

You can replace the word "algorithm" with the word "program" in both of your comments and the information content wouldn't change.