Best books and articles about the Linux kernel and system programming.

vl23 · 12-26-2013, 03:29 PM

I did start on Understanding the Linux Kernel, 3rd Edition some time ago, but it is rather old and I want something that covers 3.x kernels and the newer features as well as things like the kernel's interaction with the EFI, cgroups and the like.
Also is there something shorter and less long winded than Linux System Programming by Robert Love?

Thanks in advance.

onebuck · 12-27-2013, 03:16 PM

Hi,

The books mentioned are good and would provide the basis to move on to your desired areas.

Check some of the IBM white papers.

Check out Linux Books & Online Magazines section of Slackware®-Links.

Plus Linux Kernel

syg00 · 12-27-2013, 03:50 PM

Given the pace of development of the kernel, you'll just have to accept any book you get will have already gone out of date. As for long-winded, they have to cover all skill levels - if you want terse, get into the source; you're going to have to anyway.
I imported (and liked) Mauerer's Professional Linux Kernel Architecture when it was first released - the Love books (I have a few) are short by comparison.

LMKL might help with the history of why/how new function was included - it is neither easy to track nor friendly.

rabirk · 12-28-2013, 07:54 AM

I have a copy of "The Linux Programming Interface: A Linux and UNIX System Programming Handbook," by Micheal Kerrisk. This book is huge, and I've sadly not gotten very far into it, but from flipping through it, the book seems excellent.