Is Android an OS or a stack software?

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The definitions given by Google for Android

"Android is an open-source software stack for a wide range of mobile Devices and a corresponding open-source project led by Google."

and by American Wikipedia

"Android is an Operating system based on the Linux kernel with a user interface based on direct Manipulation, Designed primarily for mobile touchscreen Devices such as smartphones and tablet Computers[...]"

left me in doubt about the objectives of the platform.

Perhaps an answer that will explain the difference between OS and stack software will bring the reader the understanding about these two concepts.

android

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The operating system is the core of the system and the Stack software is the software situated above the kernel that enhances and expands the functionality of the system.

In Linux, the kernel is the operating system. The Stack software can include things like:

  • The X window system.
  • The window manager Gnome.
  • Applications for system management.

So things like a control panel application to edit system settings are not part of the operating system. They are part of the Stack software on top of the operating system.

See the following chart for a better understanding.

inserir a descrição da imagem aqui

Windows tends to blur the line a bit, but Linux makes it a little more visible. In Windows applications that fit this scope are for example the Windows Server, Internet Explorer, . NET, SQL Server.

References:

  1. Android stack software
  2. What is Difference between Software Stack and OS?
  3. Stack software

  • I can say that the layers above the kernel: hardware, Libraries, Android Runtime, Application Framework and Applications form the Android stack software?

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    Fixes: the kernel IS the core. They are synonymous. "The OS is the core kernel of the system" should be translated as "The operating system is the central core of the system". And kernel is different from operating system. For example, https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html (Richard Stallman’s translation) makes a comparison between the two.

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    I think @Geisonsantos refers to the layer Hardware Abstraction Layer. That way too, no?

  • Exactly @Piovezan. My failure not to have put the full name.

  • @Piovezan You are correct, the HAL is also part of this scope, as cited by Wikipedia here.

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    @Sunstreaker’s response was very good, but I think a lot of the comments could be included in it, including the response itself text-based saying that Android is an SS. You showed this through the image, but I think it would be nice to respond with words. Just a suggestion.

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