From an Idea to a Patch in the Linux Mainline
In the tutorial we’re going to cover the basics of Linux kernel development, from the idea (or a bug found!) to the change integrated into the Linux mainline.
We’ll start from setting up the environment: the Linux kernel source, the compiler and debugger. Options like embedded debugger and using virtual machines in case of kernel crashes will be taken into account too.
Then we’ll cover the implementation of the patch, showing where to look for the information about APIs, how to correctly use the Linux coding style and write patch descriptions. The audience will also learn about the unit test mechanism and testing in the kernel in general.
Then we’re going to move to the process of getting the patch to the mainline: starting from where and how to send it. One of the scary points for new developers is the review process and we’re going to demystify it.
Pre-requirements: C coding, usage of Makefiles. No previous Linux kernel development experience necessary.
Marta Rybczynska
Independent, http://www.rybczynska.net/mrybczynska
Marta Rybczynska has network security background and 15 years of experience in embedded development. She has been working with embedded operating systems like Linux and various real-time ones, system libraries and frameworks up to user interfaces. Her specialties are architecture-specific parts of the Linux kernel.
In the past, Marta has served as Vice-President and treasurer for KDE e.V. She is currently working at Kalray on datacenter projects. Apart from that she is involved in various Open Source project. She is also contributing kernel-related guests articles for LWN.net.
In addition to the technical work, she is a public speaking trainer and has a leading role (currently Division Director for the South of France) in the Toastmasters organization.
She has experience with presentations on both scientific and free software conferences, including LinuxCon, Akademy and FOSDEM.