Linux Kernel Programming 2025: A Complete Guide for Developers
About this ebook
This book demystifies kernel development through a practical, hands-on approach designed for intermediate C programmers ready to explore what happens beneath the surface of the operating system. Whether you work in embedded systems, IoT, cloud infrastructure, or cybersecurity, understanding the kernel gives you a profound competitive advantage in writing efficient applications, debugging complex system-level issues, and building software that interacts directly with hardware.
Starting with the fundamentals, you will set up a professional development environment using virtual machines to ensure safe, risk-free experimentation. You will then progress through six comprehensive parts covering foundations of kernel development, module programming, core subsystems, concurrency and synchronization, device driver development, and advanced topics including debugging, tracing, and contributing to the Linux kernel community.
What sets this book apart is its structured, sequential approach that builds your skills progressively. You will not just read about theory. You will configure and compile your own custom kernel, write loadable kernel modules, navigate critical subsystems like process management and the Virtual File System, master synchronization primitives including spinlocks and mutexes, and develop a complete character device driver from scratch. Each chapter includes practical code examples, real-world exercises, and clear explanations of complex concepts without unnecessary jargon.
By the final chapter, you will have acquired the complete toolkit to become a Linux kernel developer. You will understand kernel architecture, handle concurrency challenges, interact with hardware using memory-mapped I/O and DMA, utilize powerful debugging tools like ftrace and perf, and prepare patches for submission to the official Linux kernel. This is not an academic exercise. These are production-ready skills used by professional kernel engineers at leading technology companies worldwide.
Perfect for software developers transitioning from user-space programming, aspiring systems engineers working with embedded devices, computer science students seeking practical application of operating system theory, and Linux enthusiasts ready to contribute to open source projects. The book assumes proficiency in C programming and basic Linux command-line skills, but no prior kernel development experience is required.
Linux Kernel Programming 2025 provides everything needed to master this challenging yet rewarding field. With detailed explanations, extensive code samples, troubleshooting guidance, and a focus on modern kernel versions in the 6.x series, this guide remains relevant for years to come. Take control of the operating system core and elevate your programming career to the next level.
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About the author
Williams Sebastian is an experienced systems programmer and kernel developer with extensive expertise in Linux kernel internals, device driver development, and operating systems design. With years of hands-on experience in embedded systems, cloud infrastructure, and low-level programming, Williams has contributed to various open-source projects and has a deep passion for making complex kernel concepts accessible to developers at all levels. His teaching approach emphasizes practical, hands-on learning combined with solid theoretical foundations, enabling programmers to quickly move from understanding concepts to writing production-quality kernel code. Williams believes that kernel development should not remain a mystery reserved for a select few, and through clear explanations and real-world examples, he helps developers unlock the power of systems programming and take control of the operating system's core.
