ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Linux kernel version history

Okay kiddo, so imagine you have a house made of Lego blocks. Each block is a different version of the Linux kernel. The kernel is like the brain of a computer – it controls how everything works.

So, back in 1991, a man named Linus Torvalds created the first version of the kernel – let's call it Lego block 1.0. Over time, he and other developers added new features and fixed bugs, which resulted in new versions of the kernel. Each of these new versions is like a new Lego block that you can add to your house.

As the years went on, the kernel grew more and more complex. New Lego blocks were added, like 2.0, 2.2, and 2.4. Each of these blocks added new features, like better support for hardware and new ways for programs to interact with the kernel.

Eventually, we got to the 3.x series of Lego blocks. These added even more improvements, like better support for newer processors and faster networking.

And now, we have the latest version – Linux kernel 5.0. This version has even more improvements, like better security features and faster performance.

So, in summary, the Linux kernel is like a house made of Lego blocks. Each block is a different version of the kernel, and over time, more blocks are added with new features and improvements. The latest version is 5.0, which has the best features yet!