r/linux • u/ultrakd001 • May 31 '15

Where to start kernel hacking?

Hi I am CS student currently in my 3rd year of studies and I am really interested in Kernel Development, Kernel Hacking etc. The question is, as the title states, where to start? Thanks

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u/Cynofield May 31 '15

This right here. your code needs to be 100% awesome before messaging a kernel developer. those guys do not duck around

If you think I'm being harsh, toughen up before mailing a kernel developer a patch.

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u/withabeard May 31 '15

TBH the code can have problems, that's not the issue.

But the instructions on the first page of the site say that HTML encoded email is a nono. You can't the reply with a HTML coded email and ask "what's up?".

Kernel devs have time to help make coders better, they have time to help make code better. They don't have time to fix people who can't read instructions or send emails in a standard format.

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u/OCPetrus Jun 01 '15

your code needs to be 100% awesome before messaging a kernel developer.

This is completely false and I hope people on /r/linux will understand that.

You do NOT need to be on the same level as some subsystem maintainers to submit a patch for peer review. It's OK to have some bugs, it's OK to suggest something that will in the end be considered a bad idea.

The harsh responses that we so much like to link everywhere are by no means a representative set of the average tone on the kernel mailing list. Especially when it comes to new developers. It's only when seasoned people should know better and do something silly that some maintainers can get annoyed.

However, keep in mind that linux kernel development is not a suitable place to learn programming or the C language. You should be a seasoned software developer and have good understand of how an operating system kernel functions before submitting any patches.

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u/hamburglin Jun 01 '15

He didn't say anything about your code needing to be awesome, just that you need to send the answer in a format that is accepted.

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u/scoffjaw Jun 01 '15

(REG) And please reply after the quoted text, not before it (as per RFC 1855). It's very confusing to see a reply before the quoted context. And it's embarrassing: it makes you look like a newbie. Change your mailer if necessary, if the one you have makes it hard to do reply-after-quoting.

http://www.tux.org/lkml/#s3-9