Robert Love's Linux Kernel
It feels like AI is generating so much code these days that we, as developers, are shifting our focus more toward high-level conceptualization rather than hands-on implementation. While this makes us more efficient, it also distances us from understanding the deeper mechanics of how computers actually work.
Ironically, the more I rely on AI, the more interested I become in low-level programming. Recently, I started exploring Robert Love’s Linux Kernel Development[^1]—a book that, despite being over 15 years old, still provides valuable insights into how the Linux kernel works.
However, if I had a nickel for every time I intended to read a book that wasn’t available as an audiobook, I’d be a millionaire. 😂 My reading backlog is massive, and it’ll take me ages to get through it all.
In the meantime, I found Luca Cavallin’s blog post, “A Quick Journey into the Linux Kernel,”[^2] incredibly helpful. His article breaks down some of the biggest takeaways from Linux Kernel Development, making it a great shortcut for those who don’t have time to read the full book.
One section that really stood out to me was Memory Management. Cavallin explains how physical memory is divided into “pages,” with each page tracked by a struct page. He also covers how caches are managed using SLUB (the slab allocator). Another fascinating topic he explores is debugging challenges and concurrency issues—highlighting how, in the world of kernel development, you should always assume that everything is happening simultaneously.
If you’re interested in understanding the fundamentals of the Linux kernel without diving into a full book, I highly recommend reading his blog post. He does a fantastic job summarizing key concepts and making them accessible.
References
[^1]: Robert Love, Linux Kernel Development, Amazon.
[^2]: Luca Cavallin, “A Quick Journey into the Linux Kernel,”.