Getting to Know the Linux Kernel: A Beginner's Guide
summary
Hands-on guide to grab the Upstream tree from kernel.org, edit configuration with make menuconfig, build with make -j (expect long compile times), and never remove a known-good kernel because a broken build can leave the system unbootable. Use testing tools like LTP (3–4 hrs) and kselftest (20–30 min), debug with ftrace, dump_stack, objdump+addr2line on vmlinux and GDB, and send small, well-documented patches via mailing lists to maintainers (use the kernel script to find them).
AI-written summary · about
chapters (17)
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:32What is the Linux Kernel
- 1:55Subsystem Structure
- 5:32Kernel Tree
- 6:19Linux Kernel Archives
- 8:06Customize Your Kernel
- 10:32Modifying Code
- 11:56Building the Kernel
- 15:55Testing the Kernel
- 19:22Config Flags
- 22:57Upstream
- 27:49Long Term Support
- 29:05Mailing Lists
- 30:55Getting Started
- 33:11Reporting Bugs
- 37:49Documentation
- 39:07Resources
related talks
27mBaby Steps to Kernel Hacking
25mGetting Into Linux Kernel Development After 30 Years
26mGetting Started With Kernel Programming: The Linux Kernel Mentorship Program
28mBuild System Analysis for Kernel Development and Customization
20m"How to write your first kernel selftest"
45mFrom an Idea to a Patch in the Linux Mainline
24mContinuously Integrating the Upstream Linux Kernel on Hardware
53mWorking with the Linux Kernel in the Yocto Project
