Learn basic C skills, using a book like K.N. King’s C: A Modern Approach. This should take at least three months, I would guess. Pick up some data structures and algorithms. You don’t need a complete or advanced course, but I would at least cover sorting and searching, binary trees, and priority queues. Study systems programming and computer architecture. Maybe Computer Systems: A Programmer’s Perspective by Bryant and O’Hallaron. Learn assembly language. Maybe Modern X86 Assembly Programming by Kusswurm. Modern Operating Systems by Andrew Tanenbaum. With this course, you should be able to develop a basic kernel and get a shell / filesystem. It will take time, so be patient. Go as slow as you need. Maybe if you are fast, you can go from zero to a primitive kernel in a couple years? There’s some overlap in the material above so make your own judgments about what material to focus on and what material to gloss over. Answer from EpochVanquisher on reddit.com
GitHub
github.com › Krimson-Squad › LinuxKernel_DevRoadmap
GitHub - Krimson-Squad/LinuxKernel_DevRoadmap: Linux Kernel Developer Roadmap · GitHub
Linux Kernel Developer Roadmap. Contribute to Krimson-Squad/LinuxKernel_DevRoadmap development by creating an account on GitHub.
Starred by 42 users
Forked by 13 users
Reddit
reddit.com › r/c_programming › what’s a good roadmap to learn os kernel development from scratch?
r/C_Programming on Reddit: What’s a good roadmap to learn OS kernel development from scratch?
July 10, 2025 -
Hi, I want to start learning OS kernel development but I don’t know anything about C or where to begin — I’m a complete beginner.
I’ve tried Googling and even asked ChatGPT, but the answers confused me.
Can anyone suggest a simple, step-by-step path or key topics to focus on for learning both C and OS kernel development? i've also interested learning malware development with C
Thanks!
Top answer 1 of 7
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Learn basic C skills, using a book like K.N. King’s C: A Modern Approach. This should take at least three months, I would guess. Pick up some data structures and algorithms. You don’t need a complete or advanced course, but I would at least cover sorting and searching, binary trees, and priority queues. Study systems programming and computer architecture. Maybe Computer Systems: A Programmer’s Perspective by Bryant and O’Hallaron. Learn assembly language. Maybe Modern X86 Assembly Programming by Kusswurm. Modern Operating Systems by Andrew Tanenbaum. With this course, you should be able to develop a basic kernel and get a shell / filesystem. It will take time, so be patient. Go as slow as you need. Maybe if you are fast, you can go from zero to a primitive kernel in a couple years? There’s some overlap in the material above so make your own judgments about what material to focus on and what material to gloss over.
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Tanenbaum's OS text book .
Roadmap to Start Learning System Design (As a Software Engineer with ~1 Year Experience) Nov 7, 2025
r/softwarearchitecture 8mo ago
Videos
02:20:47
Day 1 Roadmap to Linux Drivers (LRM Preview) - YouTube
11:27
The Ultimate RoadMap to Embedded LInux Device Drivers - YouTube
20:53
The Ultimate Road Map to Embedded Linux Development - YouTube
x246 Roadmap - How to become Systems Software ...
01:00
Job of a Linux Kernel Developer 🐧 #shorts #developer #networking ...
Medium
medium.com › @mukulkathpalia › my-journey-into-linux-kernel-internals-a-beginners-roadmap-60350eccdae6
My Journey Into Linux Kernel Internals — A Beginner’s Roadmap | by Mukul Kathpalia | Medium
August 15, 2025 - Understand the core responsibilities and design philosophy behind the Linux kernel. Recognize the benefits of open source and global collaboration. Set up a safe playground (VM) for hands-on experiments.
GitHub
github.com › kamranahmedse › developer-roadmap › issues › 4085
[NEW ROADMAP] Linux Kernel Developer · Issue #4085 · kamranahmedse/developer-roadmap
June 19, 2023 - It will be beneficial for people wanting to deep dive into the heart of the Linux operating system. Here is a textual roadmap for this: Linux Kernel Developer Roadmap Introduction to Linux and the Kernel What is Linux? What is the Linux ...
Author kamranahmedse
Linux Kernel
docs.kernel.org › process › development-process.html
A guide to the Kernel Development Process — The Linux Kernel documentation
The purpose of this document is to help developers (and their managers) work with the development community with a minimum of frustration. It is an attempt to document how this community works in a way which is accessible to those who are not intimately familiar with Linux kernel development ...
Linux Foundation
training.linuxfoundation.org › home › development › a beginner’s guide to linux kernel development (lfd103)
A Beginner’s Guide to Linux Kernel Development (LFD103) - Linux Foundation - Education
September 2, 2020 - Through this course you will learn how to select and configure your development system, about Linux Kernel repositories and releases, Git basics including checking out kernel repositories and working with them, how to build and install a kernel, Linux kernel enforcement standards, how to write kernel patches and test them, how to communicate with the kernel community, how to send patches, how to act on feedback from reviewers and more.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/osdev › roadmap to become a linux developer?
r/osdev on Reddit: Roadmap to become a Linux Developer?
November 24, 2021 -
Currently I work as a MEAN Stack Developer. But Always had a dream to contribute in Linux kernel. Can anyone Suggest where to learn OS Development ? Or the Roadmap to join the Linux open source community?
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To contribute to the Linux kernel you'll need to understand the Linux kernel (gain familiarity with its source code, learn how it does things, etc). While there's no strict rule, hobbyist OS developers (here and at osdev.org) are typically interested in writing their own kernels and have no reason to understand the Linux kernel. There is a small amount of overlap between "(hobbyist) OS developer" and "Linux developer" (in fundamental theory and how hardware works); but not enough to matter. In other words; you're probably going to want to go to r/linux/ . E.g. you might find this useful: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1ri04f/how_do_you_become_a_kernel_developer/
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wiki.osdev.org
Linux Kernel
kernel.org › doc › html › v4.10 › process › howto.html
HOWTO do Linux kernel development — The Linux Kernel documentation
It describes a list of relatively simple problems that need to be cleaned up and fixed within the Linux kernel source tree. Working with the developers in charge of this project, you will learn the basics of getting your patch into the Linux kernel tree, and possibly be pointed in the direction ...
Thelinuxchannel
thelinuxchannel.org › 2024 › 06 › roadmap-how-to-become-linux-kernel-developer-device-drivers-programmer-and-a-systems-software-expert-classes-courses
Roadmap – How to become Linux Kernel Developer – Device Drivers Programmer and a Systems Software Expert #classes #courses – The Linux Channel
September 6, 2024 - Many viewers and even sometimes my students ask me how I can become a kernel programmer or just device driver developer and so on. So here is my YouTube video (and an add-on video) where I summarized steps and a road-map to become a full-fledged Linux Kernel Developer.
Udemy
udemy.com › it & software
Introduction to Linux Kernel Development
September 14, 2024 - From there, you'll dive into the intricate workings of the Linux kernel, learning how to build it from source code and create a fully functional, custom bootable Linux system. This includes setting up a BusyBox user-space environment to complete the operating system, giving you a hands-on understanding of the system's internals. In addition to kernel building, this course will teach you how to develop your own Linux kernel modules, with a deep dive into loadable kernel modules (LKMs).
LinkedIn
linkedin.com › posts › kiran-kankipati-73bb59a_roadmap-how-to-become-linux-kernel-developer-activity-7205682264561651712-IbJt
How to become a Linux Kernel Developer
We cannot provide a description for this page right now
The Linux Kernel Module Programming Guide
sysprog21.github.io › lkmpg
The Linux Kernel Module Programming Guide
May 27, 2026 - This chapter introduces the guide, outlines the basic development environment, and builds up from the first loadable module. The emphasis is on getting a working workflow in place before moving on to the broader kernel interfaces used by more capable modules. The Linux Kernel Module Programming ...
LinkedIn
linkedin.com › posts › david-zhu-3a68a855_linuxkernel-systemsprogramming-techcareers-activity-7339871857279496192-aHpk
How to become a Linux kernel developer in 2025
We cannot provide a description for this page right now
GitHub
github.com › kamranahmedse › developer-roadmap › issues › 630
Roadmap for Linux Kernel Developer · Issue #630 · kamranahmedse/developer-roadmap
November 5, 2019 - The scope covers to much extent the end to end web development road-map. What do you think about a roadmap for Linux Kernel Developer?
Author kamranahmedse
Kiapanahirad
blog.kiapanahirad.com › posts › contributing to the linux kernel: a practical roadmap
Contributing to the Linux Kernel: A Practical Roadmap | The Consulting Architect
November 3, 2024 - A practical guide for developers looking to contribute to the Linux kernel, covering fundamentals, setup, and the path to your first meaningful contribution. November 3, 2024 · 8 min · Kia Raad | Needs editing?
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
x203 Roadmap - How to become Linux Kernel Developer Device Drivers Programmer #education #tutorial - YouTube
Give a LIKE, if you are looking for more such niche video topics. Thank you 👍LINUX KERNEL & SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING CLASSES: https://thelinuxchannel.org/courses...
Published June 25, 2020
Answer Overflow
answeroverflow.com › m › 1118234539198795846
linux kernel development roadmap - Computer Programming - Seneca Polytechnic College
June 13, 2023 - sorry for asking too much question, i does anyone have a good roadmap to be a kernel development.
Roadmap
roadmap.sh › linux
Linux Roadmap
May 12, 2026 - Step by step guide to learning Linux in 2026
Linux Foundation Training
training.linuxfoundation.org › home › linux kernel development
Linux Kernel Development - Linux Foundation - Education
November 13, 2020 - Open Source Best Practice A Beginner’s Guide to Open Source Software Development (LFD102) Learn the key concepts in developing open source software. ... Linux Kernel Development A Beginner’s Guide to Linux Kernel Development (LFD103) Learn how to become a Linux kernel developer and contributor.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Linux_kernel
Linux kernel - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - We don’t sit there and think up the roadmap for the next two years, then assign resources to the various new features. That's because we don’t have any resources. The resources are all owned by the various corporations who use and contribute to Linux, as well as by the various independent contributors out there. It's those people who own the resources who decide..." ... In July 2007, Con Kolivas announced that he would cease developing for the Linux kernel...