Part 1: Getting Started
Welcome to Linux kernel driver development! This section will help you set up your development environment and write your first kernel module.
What You’ll Learn
- Understanding the Linux driver development landscape
- Setting up a Docker-based development environment
- Obtaining and configuring kernel sources
- Writing, building, and loading your first kernel module
- Testing modules with QEMU (no hardware needed!)
Prerequisites
Before starting, you should have:
- C programming knowledge: Comfortable with pointers, structs, and memory management
- Basic Linux skills: Command line navigation, file editing, shell basics
- Docker installed: We’ll use containers for reproducible builds
No specialized hardware is required - we’ll test everything in QEMU.
Chapter Overview
| Chapter | Topic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Introduction | Driver development landscape and this guide’s approach |
| 1.2 | Environment Setup | Docker-based development environment |
| 1.3 | Kernel Sources | Obtaining and configuring the kernel |
| 1.4 | First Module | Hello World kernel module |
| 1.5 | QEMU Testing | Testing without physical hardware |
Quick Start
If you’re eager to get started:
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/linux-driver-dev-guide
cd linux-driver-dev-guide/docs
# Start the development container
docker-compose up -d
docker-compose exec kernel-dev bash
# Build your first module
cd /workspace/examples/part1/hello-world
make ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-linux-gnu-
Every concept in this guide includes working code examples you can build and test immediately.
Further Reading
- Kernel Documentation - Official kernel docs
- Linux Device Drivers, 3rd Edition - Classic reference (free online)
- Kernel Newbies - Beginner-friendly resources