★★★★★ 5
For begginers and also experienced kernel developers!
Format: Paperback
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?
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Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2024
