Linux Kernel Mastery: Design Principles & Case Studies

Master Linux Kernel Development Through Real-World Bug-Driven Learning

This is not a traditional theory-based kernel course. You’ll learn Linux kernel internals by analyzing, reproducing, and fixing real production bugs from kernel.org bugzilla. Every concept is taught through actual kernel issues, giving you practical skills that directly translate to professional kernel development.

Core Learning Methodology

Bug-Driven Kernel Mastery

• Learn kernel subsystems by studying real bugs that affected production systems
• Understand why kernel code is designed a certain way by analyzing actual issues
• Develop deep intuition for kernel architecture through hands-on bug analysis
• Build a portfolio of kernel patches as you progress through the course

Complete Bug Resolution Workflow

For every kernel bug covered, you will:

1. Analyze – Study the bug report and understand the problem
2. Explore – Navigate kernel source code to find relevant subsystems
3. Reproduce – Use provided VM images or build custom reproducers
4. Instrument – Add logging and tracing to understand execution flow
5. Fix – Study the upstream patch and understand the solution
6. Test – Validate the fix in isolated environments
7. Document – Create visual diagrams and detailed analysis
8. Contribute – Learn to submit patches following kernel standards

While bugs are continuously added, you’ll gain expertise across major kernel areas:

Core Subsystems

• Memory Management (MM subsystem)
• Process Scheduling and Task Management
• Virtual File System (VFS) and File Systems
• Networking Stack (TCP/IP, packet handling)
• Block Layer and Storage
• Device Drivers and Hardware Interaction
• System Calls and Kernel Entry Points
• Locking and Synchronization Mechanisms

Fundamental Concepts

• User space vs kernel space architecture
• Virtual memory and address space management
• Interrupt handling and bottom halves
• Kernel threading and work queues
• Reference counting and object lifecycle
• Error handling and resource management
• Hardware abstraction and platform support
• Boot sequence and initialization

Advanced Topics

• Race conditions and concurrency bugs
• Memory corruption and use-after-free issues
• Performance bottlenecks and optimization
• Security vulnerabilities and hardening
• Compatibility and regression issues
• Cross-architecture considerations
• Kernel configuration and build system