Just out of curiosity,
I was wondering what actually makes Linux an Operating System? Yes, I know that Linux is really only a kernel, but beyond that is what I want to know more about...
I understand that there is the LSB (Linux Standard Base) which is pushing for a consistent set of app's and such that may be supported by multiple distro's alike. However, I know that there has to be a formula which every distro has to start from. The bare minimum a system needs in order to function truly as an OS...

I don't know what exactly it is, but it is much much smaller than 1.44MB floppy disk (or it was when linux started)...

Southpaw76:

See http://www.tldp.org/LDP/Pocket-Linux...tml/index.html for a look at a bare-bones Linux OS that fits on one or two floppies.

In my own opinion, you could get away with just a kernel and busybox. Just point the kernel's init at the busybox executable.

http://www.picotux.com/techdatae.html

Under the OS section

Definitely.

Check out the LFS handbook, don't bother reading it all unless you have a week off work with nothing better to do but skim the contents and then maybe skim the odd section here and there where you are interested

Some excellent links guys, I appreciate the feedback .
This was one of my many new to Unix/ Linux questions that would pop into my head from time to time and I thought that it would probably be cool if there were an easily available list of the "ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY" packages to get Linux up and running on an x86 box. Also, along with that list, a corresponding explanation per package describing why the said app is a part of the foundation as well as alias packages, or better yet substitute app's that might be used instead of the original app in question.

This to me, would seem like a great starting or referrence point for a or even advanced users alike, to gain a better understanding of what really makes Linux an Operating System and not just a kernel with some packages .

Btw cs-cam, in referrence to LFS, I know exactly what you mean . That sure is quite a bit of info to digest ....