Becoming a Linux Kernel Programmer?

Young Grasshoopa asks: "In my 6 years of IT life, I've been a sys admin, perl programmer, and a config. mgmt. engineer. I've recently learned programming in C, and somehow ended up learning a bit of Linux Kernel programming as well. I now have developed a strong motivation to become a Linux kernel developer, but given my background, I am not sure how to approach companies or Open Source Project groups. I ask all those who were in a similar situation - how do you become a full-time kernel developer?"

Comments

Have you considered checking

[leviramsey]

KernelNewbies?

If you have, you may want to consider starting out as a kernel janitor (basically doing assloads of grunt work to build a name for yourself).

Kernel Development

[kzadot]

Well its a strange question to ask, normally one becomes a Kernel Developer, by having a need, usually unsupported hardware, and they write a driver for it.

I would consider myself a kernel developer at this stage, even before my driver is included in the mainstream kernel versions.

It sounds like you are at this stage already, so are you actually asking "How do I get a driver included in the kernel as distributed?". Well I think the answer to that is to keep submitting it to the maintainer of the relevant kernel. Things like revelance, and especially quality are important factors too.

For anyone at an earlier stage, perhaps "normal" programmers who need to learn how it all works in the kernel, I have (reccomend is too strong a word, as I have only read these 2 books on the topic) read 2 OReilly books.

Understanding the Linux Kernel, 2nd Edition and Linux Device Drivers, 2nd Edition

Of course you should also be on the linux kernel mailing list

And the rest is dependant on exactly you want to add to the kernel.