1️⃣ Binaries (Executable Files)

• A binary is a compiled file that your computer can run directly.
• When you run a command like python or ls in the terminal, you're executing a binary file.
• Binaries are usually stored in directories like /bin, /usr/bin, /usr/local/bin, etc.
• Example:

which ls
/bin/ls

**Output:**This means that when you type ls, your system is executing /bin/ls, which is a **binary file**.

2️⃣ Source Code (Human-Readable Code)

• Source code is the original human-readable form of a program, usually written in a programming language like Python, C, or Java.

• Before a program becomes a binary, it is written in source code and then compiled into machine code.

• Example: If a program like python has open-source code, you can find it in locations like /usr/lib/python3.9/ or GitHub.

• Example command:

  
  whereis python
  
  

  
  python: /usr/bin/python /usr/lib/python3.9 /usr/share/man/man1/python.1.gz
  
  

**Output:**Here, /usr/lib/python3.9/ contains source files related to Python.

3️⃣ Man Pages (Manual Pages)

• Man pages are documentation files that explain how to use commands and programs.

• You can view a command's man page using:

  
  man ls
  
  

• Man pages contain sections like description, options, examples, and usage.

• They are usually stored in directories like /usr/share/man/.

• Example:

  
  whereis ls
  
  

  
  ls: /bin/ls /usr/share/man/man1/ls.1.gz