Participating in the Linux Kernel Community: A Primer

by Lisa Hoover - Aug. 13, 2008Comments (3)

If you're toying with the idea of participating in the Linux kernel development process but don't know where to start, you'll want to have a look at a new guide available through The Linux Foundation. It's a thorough how-to that details everything from early-stage planning to posting patches.

"How to participate in the Linux Community" is written by Jon Corbet, executive editor of LWN.net. It's perfect for developers who feel compelled to help with kernel development but don't want to wade into the waters without a clear picture of what's expected -- and what's not -- from volunteer participants.

The guide also explains what pitfalls to watch for and suggests books and Web sites for check out for an even deeper understanding of kernel development.

Amanda McPherson, Vice President of Marketing and Developer Programs at the Linux Foundation, says the idea for the guide was formed during the last Linux Foundation Developer Summit when she realized just how frequently she hears developers say they want to help, followed quickly by the question, "Where do I start?" She sat down with Corbet right then and sketched out a rough outline of what would become a 30-page document.

She says now is the perfect time to release this guide because "as Linux use expands to new areas like mobile and sub-notebooks, it’s even more important to reach out to these new participants and make it as easy as possible to participate."

"The strength of Linux is its community. With this guide and the other help we can provide (like our Summits) we hope to encourage even more individuals and companies to participate."


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3 Comments
 

This is a great read - thanks. Contributing to a world-class project is exciting, and it is good to see what 'best-practices' are in play here.

0 Votes

Every community should have this. People want to contribute but often times, there is no clarity on how to best participate. Kudos to the team!

0 Votes

While I appreciate this effort, I'd be curious to know how many people are really skilled to hack the kernel? I'm sure the coordination of something of this magnitude cannot be easy, so let's see how much this really changes the effort, versus just camping out in the IRC channel and giving feedback.

0 Votes
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