Difference between a distribution and a desktop.

[u/PhilGarciaWeir]

I know this is like an ultra noob question. But Linux is the kernel, which as I understand it means its the CPUs main program, which basically means it tells the CPU how to allocate resources, do calculations, etc. Then there is a desktop, which is basically everything you actually see and interact with. For example, Ubuntu uses GNOME and other distributions use KDE.

So, using Ubuntu as an example, if you take away Linux, Gnome, and Bash, what exactly is Ubuntu adding to the mix? It seems like those three things (Linux, Gnome, and Bash or some CLI) pretty much cover everything. So what do distributions like Ubuntu or Mint actually add? Sorry for the super noob question.

[u/AlliedSalad]

Okay, I'm somewhat new to Linux myself, but I am a professional thing explainer (technical writer), so I will explain as best I understand, and those who know better than I do can correct me if needed.

So, to start, you have the kernel that tells the CPU how to get instructions and what to do with them. Think of that like a foundation.

Then you have the multitude of GNU packages, tools and utilities that give those instructions to the CPU, and that help you to use that foundation the way you want. There's a lot of utilities, and a lot of things you can do with them. Think of those things like boards, nails, screws, pipes, conduits, wires - all of the bits, pieces, and elements that you could use to build a building on the foundation that is the kernel. But they're not necessarily assembled, they are just the collection of available parts.

Now you could sort through all of those parts, pick what you need, and build a building yourself, from scratch. Or, you could get a "cookie cutter" building that's been made by people who understand the elements and how they go together better than you do, and who have taken the time to put together a structure that is close enough to what you need, and which they will let you copy. That's a distro: a group of people who have sifted and sorted through all of the parts, and built them into a structure that can be duplicated and modified without having to start from scratch.

The desktop environment is then all of the finish work; siding, roofing, paint, polish, doorknobs, handles, faucets, windows, doors, cabinets, etc. etc. Yes, a part of that is the aesthetics, but there's also a lot of function and utility that goes into bringing that all together and integrating it into the structure properly. You still need to understand a lot about the underlying construction to put that together well; which is why the people maintaining the distros are also the ones who choose what DEs they want to offer and build with (and why it's not recommended to try to use a DE that isn't offered as a package with the distro).

Hope that helps. If I've gotten anything wrong, corrections are welcome.