Difference Between Kernel and Shell
The main difference between kernel and shell is that the kernel is the core of the operating system that controls all the tasks of the system while the shell is the interface that allows the users to communicate with the kernel.
Unix is an operating system. It is the interface between the user and the hardware. It performs a variety of tasks including file handling, memory management, controlling hardware devices, process management and many more. There are various versions of Unix: Solaris Unix, HP Unix, AIX, etc. Linux is a flavor of Unix, and it is free and open-source. Unix is popular in enterprise-level because it supports multiple user environment. Kernel and Shell are two components in Unix architecture. The kernel is the heart of the operating system while Shell is a utility to process user’s requests.
Key Terms
Kernel, Shell, Operating System, Unix
What is Kernel
The kernel is the heart of the operating system. The term kernel often refers to the operating system. The critical code of the kernel is stored in a special memory area to protect it from other programs. It is a vital component as it is the basis for the proper functioning of the entire system. The kernel performs a variety of tasks including process management, managing hardware devices and handling interrupts.
Furthermore, it performs memory management, file handling, and task scheduling. A system call is a request by a process to the kernel. The kernel manages these system calls and other resources.
What is Shell
Shell is the interface between user and kernel. It is a command-line interpreter and is the interface between the user and the kernel. The user can enter commands to the shell. Then it interprets the commands to perform the required task. Furthermore, it executes programs and shell scripts. A shell script is a set of commands. The user should follow the standard syntax to write commands to the shell.
There are various types of shells. The Bourne shell (sh) is the most popular Unix shell. The default prompt of Bourne shell is $. The Korn shell (ksh) is backward compatible with the Bourne shell and includes many features of C shell. Bourne Again Shell (bash) is a free shell replacement for the Bourne shell. The Korn and Bourne Again Shell are supersets of Bourne shell. Furthermore, the C shell (csh) provides a few advantages over the Bourne shell. It provides history features and aliasing of commands. The default prompt of the C shell is %.
Definition
The kernel is a computer program that acts as the core of the computer’s operating system and has control over everything in the system. A shell is a computer program that works as the interface to access the services provided by the operating system.
Usage
A kernel is the core of the system that controls all the tasks of the system. Shell is the interface between the kernel and the user.
Types
The kernel does not have different types. Shell has different types such as Bourne shell, C shell, Korn Shell, Bourne Again Shell, etc.
Conclusion
The difference between kernel and shell is that the kernel is the core of the operating system that controls all the tasks of the system while the shell is the interface that allows the users to communicate with the kernel. In brief, the shell is the interface that helps the users to access the services provided by the operating system.
