# Genkernel

> Gentoo automatic kernel building scripts

**Wikidata**: [Q1050637](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1050637)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genkernel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/genkernel

## Summary
Genkernel is a collection of automatic kernel building scripts designed for the Gentoo Linux operating system. It is classified as free software, providing users with the freedoms to run, study, change, and distribute it. The tool is maintained within the Gentoo ecosystem and is available in multiple languages via the Gentoo Wiki.

## Key Facts
- **Description:** Genkernel consists of Gentoo automatic kernel building scripts.
- **Software Class:** It is an instance of **free software**, defined by terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it and modified versions.
- **Gentoo Package:** The package identifier is `sys-kernel/genkernel`.
- **Source Repository:** The source code is hosted at `https://anongit.gentoo.org/git/proj/genkernel.git`.
- **Website:** The official associated website is `https://www.gentoo.org`.
- **Wiki Coverage:** The tool has extensive documentation on the Gentoo Wiki in 12 languages, including English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Hungarian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Tamil, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
- **Wikipedia Presence:** It has a Wikipedia article in 5 languages: English, Spanish, Italian, Polish, and Portuguese.
- **Tracking:** It is tracked as a project named "genkernel" on Repology and has a Freebase ID of `/m/05fnlq`.

## FAQs
### What is Genkernel used for?
Genkernel is a set of scripts used within Gentoo to automate the process of building the Linux kernel. It simplifies kernel compilation for users of the Gentoo operating system.

### Is Genkernel free to use?
Yes, Genkernel is classified as free software. This means it is distributed under terms that grant users the permission to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and any modified versions of it.

### Where can the source code for Genkernel be found?
The source code for Genkernel is maintained in a Git repository located at `https://anongit.gentoo.org/git/proj/genkernel.git`.

### Is Genkernel available in languages other than English?
Yes, while the software functions technically, its documentation on the Gentoo Wiki is widely localized. Articles exist for English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Hungarian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Tamil, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

## Why It Matters
Genkernel plays a specific role in the Gentoo Linux ecosystem by automating kernel building, a task that can otherwise be complex and manual on this distribution. Its significance is further defined by its classification as free software; it embodies the "four freedoms" (running, studying, changing, and distributing), positioning it as a user-empowering tool in contrast to proprietary alternatives. By being part of the free software movement and the open-source movement, Genkernel ensures that Gentoo users have full control over their kernel compilation process without restrictive licensing. Its extensive localization across the Gentoo Wiki in over a dozen languages also highlights its global accessibility and relevance to a diverse user base.

## Notable For
- Being a dedicated **Gentoo automatic kernel building** utility.
- Classification as **free software**, ensuring user permissions to study and modify the code.
- Extensive **multilingual documentation** on the Gentoo Wiki (12 languages) and Wikipedia (5 languages).
- Integration into the official Gentoo system as the package `sys-kernel/genkernel`.
- Transparency through a publicly accessible source code repository.

## Body
### Definition and Function
Genkernel is a set of scripts utilized within the Gentoo operating system to automate the building of the Linux kernel. Its primary function is to streamline the compilation process, which is a central aspect of maintaining a Gentoo system. By automating these tasks, it serves as a bridge between manual kernel configuration and pre-compiled binary kernel management.

### Software Classification and Philosophy
Genkernel is explicitly classified as an instance of **free software**. This categorization aligns it with the broader free software and open-source movements.
- **User Rights:** As free software, it is defined by the "four freedoms," allowing users to run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions.
- **Distinctions:** It is distinct from proprietary software (its conceptual opposite) and freeware. While it is "said to be the same as" open-source software in some contexts, it is technically a subclass of freely redistributable and source-available software.
- **Related Tools:** It shares this classification with other free software tools like Buildroot, Minikube, and GitHub CLI.

### Availability and Resources
Genkernel is distributed and documented through several key channels:
- **Gentoo Integration:** It is available to users via the package `sys-kernel/genkernel`.
- **Source Code:** The development is transparent, with the code hosted at `https://anongit.gentoo.org/git/proj/genkernel.git`.
- **Repology:** It is tracked under the project name "genkernel" on Repology.
- **Official Site:** Information is hosted on the main Gentoo website at `https://www.gentoo.org`.

### Documentation and Localization
The project supports a wide array of languages through its documentation network, specifically on the Gentoo Wiki. This extensive localization underscores its global user base.
- **Gentoo Wiki Articles:** Documentation exists for:
  - English (`Genkernel`, ID: 1426)
  - German (`Genkernel/de`, ID: 110376)
  - Spanish (`Genkernel/es`, ID: 24459)
  - French (`Genkernel/fr`, ID: 21797)
  - Italian (`Genkernel/it`, ID: 24303)
  - Hungarian (`Genkernel/hu`, ID: 377295)
  - Brazilian Portuguese (`Genkernel/pt-br`, ID: 184276)
  - Russian (`Genkernel/ru`, ID: 21991)
  - Tamil (`Genkernel/ta`, ID: 325812)
  - Simplified Chinese (`Genkernel/zh-cn`, ID: 175360)
  - Japanese (`Genkernel/ja`, ID: 53241)
  - Korean (`Genkernel/ko`, ID: 99882)
- **Wikipedia:** Articles about Genkernel are available in English, Spanish, Italian, Polish, and Portuguese.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Portage
3. [Source](https://gitweb.gentoo.org/repo/gentoo.git/tree/sys-kernel/genkernel/genkernel-3.5.0.4.ebuild?id=080ca735f85ceda85ec5cca0805f51f212c4e2b9#n36)