View Source Introduction

Scope

The Kernel application has all the code necessary to run the Erlang runtime system: file servers, code servers, and so on.

The Kernel application is the first application started. It is mandatory in the sense that the minimal system based on Erlang/OTP consists of Kernel and STDLIB. Kernel contains the following functional areas:

  • Start, stop, supervision, configuration, and distribution of applications
  • Code loading
  • Logging
  • Global name service
  • Supervision of Erlang/OTP
  • Communication with sockets
  • Operating system interface

Prerequisites

It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the Erlang programming language.