RE: kernel programming

["Tariq Rashid" <tariq@inty.net>]

I really do think that there is a need for a book like Gary Nutt's "Kernel
Projects for Linux" ... bit for OpenBSd and/or FreeBSD.

That book has the right balance between theory and practice - part I takes
yo through an overview of the history, context and workings of OSes and the
linux OS.... then part II takes you through excercises ... challenging but
also very educational... with solution hints too....

The more new developers the better ... so many people DON'T want to do
windows coding ... but looking around the major high street bookshops, you'd
be forgiven if you thought there was nothing else!

I think that the beginner / app user level is very well addresses with help
and docs and books ... and so is the low-level kernel-tech-devel stuff (news
groups, mailling lists).... but I think the KEY is to provide an nice path
from one to the other.... there's a "potential hill" in the way as they say
in chemistry ...

                         ___
  |                     /    \
  |   user-land _______/      \
  |                            \
  |                             \________ kernel-land
  \/
 enlightenment


   ;)

  tariq



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-misc@openbsd.org [mailto:owner-misc@openbsd.org]On Behalf Of
Burde, Holger
Sent: 01 November 2001 08:27
To: 'misc@openbsd.org'
Subject: AW: kernel programming


Hi;

One usefull book - its about SYSV and a bit old - is Maurice Bachs 'The
Design of the Unix Operating System'(PH).

hb

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Peter Hessler [mailto:yodadoa@yahoo.com]
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 1. November 2001 05:11
An: Nathan Binkert; Nellis, Nick
Cc: 'misc@openbsd.org'
Betreff: Re: kernel programming


Alright, how about this one.  Do you need to know the language first,
or is the kernel a good place to learn C?  (If so, which modules and
such?)

If you need to know the language first, are there any good methods to
learn C?


--- Nathan Binkert <binkertn@umich.edu> wrote:
> The biggest mistake people make when they want to start kernel
> hacking is
> that they think they have to know all sorts of stuff about the kernel
> when
> they start.  I made this mistake, and I'm sure that others have as
> well.
>
> The best, and I think only way to start learning about the kernel, is
> to
> just jump in and start.  If you can't figure out how something is
> supposed
> to work, use grep to look through the kernel source to find something
> similar to what you want to do.
>
> So, download the source, learn how to build a kernel, and just go for
> it.
> I can guarantee that no matter how much reading you do on the
> subject,
> you'll still make plenty of mistakes when you start.  Just keep
> plugging
> away.  You'll never really learn how to do it until you actually
> start
> trying.
>
> Example from my perspective.  I wanted to port a gigabit ethernet
> driver.
> The first one took me a month.  This last one I did in about 3 hours.
>  You
> just kinda get the hang of things.
>
>   Nathan
>
> > i was just wondering if anyone had good pointers about starting to
> do
> > kernel/device driver programming for openbsd. i would like to
> contribute to
> > the project the best i can but havent done any any kernel level
> programming
> > before. i do understand operating system concepts and the like
> though.
> >
> > so, is there any pointers/references that i could get myself
> started on to
> > get to grips with the openbsd source code? i know i wont become a
> super
> > kernel programmer overnight, but a nudge in the right direction
> would be
> > great.
> >
> > cheers
> >
> > nick
>


=====
Peter Hessler
<yodadoa@yahoo.com>
Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals.
http://personals.yahoo.com


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