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Old 09-03-2020, 10:41 AM   #1
Mackyboy123
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Understand linux in an advanced way.


Hi,

In January, I switched to Fedora Linux. This was because I wanted to understand more about linux and the best way was to plunge in. Now, I can understand how to most of the command-line utils and the command line itself.

Now, I want to understand some of the more advanced features. I want to take apart the kernel and understand what each part does. I don't know c, but I understand c++. I also want to understand the bootloaders. What is the best way to go about this?
 
Old 09-03-2020, 11:33 AM   #2
dugan
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My recommendation? Buy a copy of O'Reilly's Understanding the Linux Kernel and treat it as a supplement to reading the actual kernel source code. Actual kernel source code: Shakespeare. O'Reilly book: Cliff's Notes.
 
Old 09-03-2020, 05:31 PM   #3
syg00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mackyboy123 View Post
I want to take apart the kernel and understand what each part does.
Big journey ahead of you - last I looked it was better than 27 million lines of code. Good luck.
From experience I would advise you pick something (very) small that interests you and concentrate on that.
There are many excellent books, all of which quickly go out of date - I use the book recommended above as a door-stop for my home office ... somehow I managed to buy two copies ...

As for booting, a new book was recommended in this recent thread - I've not read it personally.
 
Old 09-04-2020, 02:47 AM   #4
Mackyboy123
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Originally Posted by dugan View Post
My recommendation? Buy a copy of O'Reilly's Understanding the Linux Kernel and treat it as a supplement to reading the actual kernel source code. Actual kernel source code: Shakespeare. O'Reilly book: Cliff's Notes.
Can you pleae give me an amazon link. Also, I want to know what I should have covered if I want to undertake such a big project
 
Old 09-04-2020, 06:32 AM   #5
Soadyheid
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Quote:
Can you pleae give me an amazon link.
I find it a bit concerning that you want to take on such a major task yet you apparently can't find Amazon via Google and then type "Understanding the Linux Kernel" in their search box!

Strange...

Play Bonny!

 
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Old 09-04-2020, 06:37 AM   #6
Turbocapitalist
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It's not my area, but I would say to start looking at kernel.org:

https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/late...ing/index.html

There is a lot of material there on the whole range of relevant topics.
 
Old 09-04-2020, 07:11 AM   #7
berndbausch
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Soadyheid View Post
I find it a bit concerning that you want to take on such a major task yet you apparently can't find Amazon via Google and then type "Understanding the Linux Kernel" in their search box!
It's sufficient to google the title. Amazon is not the only book seller.
 
Old 09-04-2020, 07:25 AM   #8
pan64
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I think there is no anyone who understand [fully] every and each line of the kernel. That is just impossible. But it is just my personal opinion.
I would recommend to learn c first, understand what is a device driver and some other "features" of the kernel. Probably also need to know how can we create a working kernel.
 
Old 09-05-2020, 03:32 AM   #9
Mackyboy123
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Originally Posted by Soadyheid View Post
I find it a bit concerning that you want to take on such a major task yet you apparently can't find Amazon via Google and then type "Understanding the Linux Kernel" in their search box!

Strange...

Play Bonny!

I did, but there were quite a few books with the same title
 
Old 09-05-2020, 03:48 AM   #10
Mackyboy123
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Originally Posted by pan64 View Post
I think there is no anyone who understand [fully] every and each line of the kernel. That is just impossible. But it is just my personal opinion.
I would recommend to learn c first, understand what is a device driver and some other "features" of the kernel. Probably also need to know how can we create a working kernel.
I don't want to understand all the kernel. I just want to know what makes linux tick under the interfaces
 
Old 09-05-2020, 05:45 AM   #11
ondoho
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mackyboy123 View Post
I did, but there were quite a few books with the same title
I really don't see how you have difficulty understanding this...
Good luck understanding "what makes Linux tick".
 
  


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