Arch Linux

s3micol0n

Member

Registered: 2017-08-13

Posts: 10

[SOLVED] Why does the linux package has dependencies ?

I know this is going to be a very noob question. But i tried to find out and still couldn't find a answer. So, I am posting here.

What I know is the linux 4.12.8-2 provides the linux kernel image 'vmlinuz-linux'.

And from what i understand is that the linux kernel is the core of the complete os and hence it should not be have any dependencies. What is mean is that the if i have a machine and somehow run only the kernel, it will run but won't be useful as i wouldn't be able to interact with it (I wouldn't have a shell).

glibc is a wrapper on the linux kernel which provides the api's to interact with the kernel. And hence glib having linux-api-headers makes sense.

But the linux kernel having dependencies-does not make sense to. I know that this is a very noob question probably but still i would be really thankful if you could help me out with it.

Last edited by s3micol0n (2017-08-23 07:17:16)

HiImTye

Member

From: Halifax, NS, Canada

Registered: 2012-05-09

Posts: 1,072

Re: [SOLVED] Why does the linux package has dependencies ?

if you actually read the descriptions for the dependencies, it will become obvious why they are there

ayekat

Member

Registered: 2011-01-17

Posts: 1,634

Re: [SOLVED] Why does the linux package has dependencies ?

This is not really explained by simply reading the descriptions of the packages themselves, so allow me to reply even if this has been marked as [solved] without any further feedback for other people:

coreutils and kmod are required for running the linux package's install script (see /var/lib/pacman/local/linux-{version}/install).
linux-firmware is the part of Linux that handles firmware (...).
mkinitcpio is required for the pacman hook that rebuilds /boot/initramfs-linux.img when a new kernel is installed.

So yes, the Linux kernel does indeed not require anything else (apart from the firmware part), but the Linux package does.

Last edited by ayekat (2017-08-23 10:02:11)

---

pkgs │ hacks │ cfg │ blag

s3micol0n

Member

Registered: 2017-08-13

Posts: 10

Re: [SOLVED] Why does the linux package has dependencies ?

Thank you for your reply. This made it much clearer. And i will take care of posting an explanation of the solution before marking it solved.

HiImTye

Member

From: Halifax, NS, Canada

Registered: 2012-05-09

Posts: 1,072

Re: [SOLVED] Why does the linux package has dependencies ?

they do answer the question, though.
Linux kernel module management tools and library
Firmware files for Linux
The basic file, shell and text manipulation utilities of the GNU operating system
Modular initramfs image creation utility
they all make perfect sense, even if you don't know what initramfs or firmware are, with only minimal googling.