Re: What are Kernel Headers

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Author: Jeremy C. Reed
Date:  
To: plug-discuss
Subject: Re: What are Kernel Headers
On Wed, 9 Jun 2004, George Gambill wrote:

> And, what is there purpose.


Used by developers.

Headers can define macros and functions for example.

Linux kernel headers are only needed when building software that needs the
definitions as defined in the Linux kernel headers.

As an example, /usr/include/linux/version.h can be referenced to know
what kernel your (hopefully) system is using. Then software can be built
as appropriate.

Some of the headers are specific for the hardware platform.

GNU libc also provides many headers -- some of which define the same
things.

If you don't build software, then in most cases you do not need kernel
headers. In fact, you don't need them for building a lot of software.

If you are building something and it mentions missing asm or linux
headers, then you can install kernel headers then.

Jeremy C. Reed

                 open source, Unix, *BSD, Linux training
                http://www.pugetsoundtechnology.com/


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