I found this book as impacting me as LDD (by Rubini etc) has been in its days, a de-facto standard established to the point that people keep searching for LDD4/LDD5 to these days, that much desirable.

Since LDD3 the last update on 2.6, this book (as well as kernel debugging and hands-on systems programming) is a valuable source of information for modern kernels 5 and 6 for a few years to come.

Knowledgeable and easy to follow, captivating attention to keep on reading it through, impressive for a technical book. LDD4+ has now found reincarnated, thank you very much for all the effort composing it!

I really could not be happier with the pace and level of detail this book provides. I am a very surface-level Linux user and I wanted to dive in head first. I often find that when I learn about something that I consider really hard or intimidating in tech, I get better at day-to-day use of the tools and my confidence grows. This book is a real confidence-booster if you crave the knowledge of how things work under the hood.

Great book to keep you updated about upstream Linux

Linux Kernel Programming, Second Edition is a very practical and well-structured book for anyone who wants to understand how the Linux kernel works. It focuses on both theory and real hands-on learning. The book uses a clear style and explains complex topics in a simple way. It is designed to help readers build real skills, not just read concepts. It is especially useful for developers who want to work closer to the operating system.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is the strong introduction to kernel programming. It explains how to set up a development environment, build the Linux kernel from source, and write the first kernel module. This section gives readers a solid starting point and builds confidence early in the learning process. It also explains why loadable kernel modules are widely used in real-world projects.

Another highlight is the deep coverage of kernel internals. The book explains core concepts such as kernel architecture, processes, threads, and the difference between user mode and kernel mode. These ideas are often hard to understand, but the book presents them in a clear and structured way. This helps readers see how the operating system really works under the surface.

The memory management section is especially strong and detailed. The book spends several chapters explaining how memory is allocated and managed inside the kernel. It also explains advanced topics such as page allocation, memory reclaim, and the out-of-memory system. These chapters are very useful for understanding performance and stability in real systems.

Another very interesting section is the coverage of CPU scheduling. The book explains how the Linux kernel decides which task runs at a given time. It introduces scheduling policies, priorities, and modern features like control groups. The explanations are practical and supported by examples, which makes the topic easier to follow.

The chapters on kernel synchronization are also a major highlight. They explain concepts such as locks, atomic operations, and deadlock prevention. These topics are critical for writing safe and reliable kernel code. The book also shows real examples and common mistakes, which helps readers avoid problems in their own work.

Another strength of the book is its hands-on approach. It includes many kernel modules, scripts, and examples that readers can try themselves. This makes learning more engaging and helps turn theory into real skills. The focus on practical work makes the book stand out from more theoretical resources.

Overall, this book is a great choice for developers, system programmers, and engineers who want to understand the Linux kernel in depth. It starts with the basics and moves into advanced topics in a smooth way. The combination of clear explanations and practical examples makes it a strong and valuable learning resource.

Binding glue fell apart in less than a week and the pages fell out. Content is great though and I have a shiny new kernel based on Kali. 4 stars despite the binding because the content is top tier if you love all things Linux 🤌

Linux Kernel Programming - Second Edition: A Comprehensive and Practical Guide to Kernel Internals, Writing Modules, and Kernel Synchronization is an outstanding resource for anyone eager to understand the inner workings of the Linux kernel. Whether you're a beginner looking to get started or an experienced developer aiming to deepen your knowledge, this book delivers a well-structured and hands-on approach to kernel programming.

The book starts with the fundamentals—setting up a kernel development environment, understanding kernel release nomenclature, and compiling the 6.x Linux kernel from source. As you progress, it dives into advanced topics such as kernel configuration, writing and debugging loadable kernel modules (LKMs), kernel synchronization mechanisms, memory management, CPU scheduling, and much more. Each chapter builds on practical examples, ensuring that readers not only understand the theory but also learn how to apply it in real-world scenarios.

One of the book's biggest strengths is its focus on practical application. From exploring the kernel build process and bootloader configurations to working with Git for kernel development and troubleshooting system crashes using debugging tools, the book provides step-by-step guidance. The coverage of kernel synchronization techniques—including spinlocks, mutexes, and RCU—makes it an invaluable reference for those dealing with concurrent programming in the kernel space.

Whether you're an aspiring kernel developer, a DevOps engineer, or a systems programmer, this book is a must-have. The clear explanations, well-structured content, and hands-on exercises make it a perfect companion for anyone wanting to go from a beginner to an expert in Linux kernel programming.

Highly recommended for anyone serious about understanding and working with the Linux kernel!

I got on my desk a copy of "Linux Kernel Programmin (2E)" by Kaiwan N. Billimoria

and will shortly mention what this book is about.

It is a book that you can read cover-to-cover to have a better understanding of kernel development,

but I see also how it can be used as a reference when you are going to throw C code at your compiler

and build a linux kernel.

There is a number of scenario why you might want to do that:

- You are recompiling the kernel for a new machine that needs better support

- You are going to implement a kernel module and you need some context

- You are going to work on the kernel yourself

While all of those use-cases for the book are technically a fit, apart from gaining some

higher understanding I see the most out of it if you are going to code on the kernel itself.

There you have everything that is needed. You can go back and forth between your code

and the book, and still learn by doing.

What mostly impressed me is the breath of the topics: the chapter about writing

a config file for the kernel enlists a total of seven (7!) different strategies

to get started with a configuration file for your kernel.

Also a lot of side tools are mentioned to help out with kernel development and

debugging.

Quite some module development can be in theory done without fully understanding

the details of the kernel itself, but the deeper you reach, the more you will

need the details that are well discussed in the book.

Memory allocation, CPU scheduling algorithms, the book does not try to save

words and describe in detail and plain language most things there is to know,

not sparing plenty of references to other books and articles.

Also, the material is up-to-date with the latest kernel.

There are a few aspects about the book that I really like. One is that every chapter provides a very detailed and immersive look into a specific part of kernel development. Another interesting aspect about the book is that it is based on a very recent kernel version (6.1), which is also an LTS version that will be maintained for a few years. I am not aware of any other book about the Linux kernel based on such a recent version.

The first 3 chapters of the book explains how to configure and build the Linux kernel (both natively for x86_64 and cross-compiling for AArch64). After that, chapters 4 and 5 explains all you need to know about how to write kernel modules. And starting from chapter 6, the book introduces different aspects of kernel programming in very detail, from the scheduler to memory management and synchronization. Get ready, because it is indeed a big book, with more than 800+ pages!

I really think the book targets both beginners and experts. For beginners, it will be a deep dive into major kernel programming concepts (make sure you follow along the exercises proposed by the author). For experienced kernel developers, the book is really a refresher. Though I work with the Linux kernel for 15+ years, I can still learn a lot by reading the book. An old dog can always learn new tricks, right?

Ottimo libro

sehr gutes Buch, ausführliche technische Beschreibungen, sehr viele Kernelcode-Beispiele, es wird auch auf das Build-Emvironment eingegangen (Module, Kernelerstellung)

Excellent, deeply and clearly explained, even giving you more adicional information to research about topics, heading you to where and how develop it

I could give 10 star if possible.

Anyone can, with some help, write a script to create a kernel. But without understanding what is happening and why, this book does not give you that knowledge. It is full of filler and meaningless talk, as if it were the hallucination of an old AI bot.and many links some refers to , are not working and seem to be missing and unsafe.