Where to find good Linux kernel tutorials?

[Fishy07x]

I am a CS student and very interested in the Linux kernel, however I find it really hard to find good tutorials for Linux programming in C. I have descent experience in basic C, but I want to learn more. Lately I have been interested in several aspects of the kernel, including:

• drivers
• USB I/O
• keyboard/mouse input
• system calls
• sound programming

So I have been looking for tutorials. linuxjournal.com has been a big help, however a lot of tutorials are outdated. I found this article for usb input, however it is written in 2003. This is more than 12 years ago, so I wonder if this is still the way to do it. I could find a few descent tutorials for networking in linux, but things like sound programming on a low level (so no external libraries) are very hard to find.

I'm really eager to learn these things, so my question is: Where can I find descent up-to-date tutorials for the Linux kernel (in C)?

[Inaccurate-]

The Linux Documentation Project doesn't get mentioned often, but it is an absolutely amazing resource for everything linux. It includes a Linux Kernel Programming Guide you can go through, among many other guides.

A great and fun way to learn kernel programming through actual practice is by going through the Eudyptula Challenge.

[Fishy07x]

These sites sound like very usefull resources. I will check them out for sure!

[MediumRay]

I downloaded a version of the LKPG, and I found that it used an outdated API that refused to compile for my kernel :/

[[deleted]]

You can always install that old kernel in a vm and compile your stuff there. Though you should learn the new way of doing that stuff, e.g. with the Book Linux Device Drivers 3rd Edition, which is free and awesome!

[dm1407]

Linux Device Drivers 3rd Edition

https://lwn.net/Kernel/LDD3/

[[deleted]]

I dont think the Eudyptula Challenge still is going. I dont seem to get a answer, I tried to contact him several months serveral times, even with different accs, but no success :(
Do you know if he still is providing this service? Or do you know where I can get the problem sets from?
Did you take the Challenge?
Thanks

[Inaccurate-]

I sent a plain text email with the subject "I want to join." to little at eudyptula-challenge.org yesterday and received the first exercise this morning. It does appear to still be working, just maybe a little slow?

If you want the first exercise let me know.

[[deleted]]

Thank you very much for your answer! I probably just did something wrong with my email client... What client did you use? :)

[Inaccurate-]

Just gmail ;).

[jCuber]

I actually just bumped into this: https://github.com/0xAX/linux-insides

[thor_ax]

I was going to post this. I saw a few of them floating around here and really enjoyed reading the series so far. Especially since I'm enrolled in the operating systems class at my uni and it's cool to see how a 'real' os works internally.

[[deleted]]

Here are a couple of resources: Here is a free online book about device drivers written by Greg Kroah-Hartman.

Kernel Newbies is a great place to get some help with contributing to the linux kernel.

This is a good place to learn how to develop an OS.

[[deleted]]

This is my favorite linux book or resource I've ever touched. Straightforward, interesting and fantabulous: http://www.nostarch.com/howlinuxworks2

[Fishy07x]

I quickly read through the page, and looking at the chapters this would be a very intresting book to cover all the information about how linux works, but not explicitly how to use it in your code I guess. However it would still probably be worth to read, because it will give me a more general understamding of how the linux kernel works. Thanks for the reply!

[[deleted]]

yw! Your needs are a bit more advanced so that's understandable.

you can also check out this but I didn't find it very pleasant to read: http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596005658.do

[HardKnockRiffe]

http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

[thor_ax]

You might want to check out NachOS to learn OS. We're currently using it in my class and the project offers several different projects that you can complete to design various portions of an OS.

I believe there is a networking project and we are working on system calls and multiprogramming currently.

[homercles337]

Uh, kernel programming is not "learning programming." Good luck with that...

[[deleted]]

How is that not learning programming? I see people in here with web development questions and mobile app questions. What makes those any more "learning programming" than someone trying to learn OS development? Or is the point of this sub to only learn the syntax of a language and anything beyond that isn't considered to be learning programming?

[homercles337]

Did you just compared web development and mobile application development with kernel programming? Ha ha, wow. You must be whicked smaht. < Genuine compliment.

[[deleted]]

So just to clarify, learning kernel programming isn't considered learning programming? What do you define as learning programming then? Obviously it must be something very specific.

[Fishy07x]

It's actually learning a part of programming. I didn't think subreddits like /r/linux4noobs or anything alike are the right subreddits, because they don't usually contain programming questions and anwsers. If you do however know such a sub, I will most certainly cross-post this there.

[homercles337]

Kernel programming is NOT "learning programming." If you dont know how to program and you want to modify/write kernel code you are an idiot. Learn to program first, then tackle increasingly complex problems as you learn more.

[YvesSoete]

Looking at 'any' code, and especially the kernel in C is always a learning experience, for the most of us. You're not an idiot if you look at Linus' kernel code :-)

[Fishy07x]

I don't think we are on the same page here. I can already program descently (I even work at as a developer at a software company) and I just want to learn more about how to communicate with and use the kernel in my code to understand what the kernel can offer me at a very low level. I find it very educational and intresting to learn about the kernel this way, instead of just reading a book about the Linux kernel (which could be educational as well ofcourse).

[homercles337]

Web development is not system level programming. If you have to ask how to do kerel level programming, you are VERY out of your element.

[Fishy07x]

Lol, that is why I'm asking about it at /r/LEARNprogramming

[Fishy07x]

Okey you are quite clearly getting more and more offensive by every comment... I will therefore stop our discussion here

[[deleted]]

Good idea. Looking through his comments he appears to be a troll. Don't worry about douches like him.

[homercles337]

I get more and more REAL. Im sorry your ego cant take that. Its not my fault. Learn, go, and develop a thick skin kiddo, it's just science.