Linux kernel mailing list
Encyclopedia
The Linux kernel mailing list (LKML) is the main electronic mailing list
for Linux kernel
development, where the majority of the announcements, discussions, debates, and flame wars over the kernel take place. Many other mailing lists exist to discuss the different subsystems and ports of the Linux kernel, but LKML is the principal communication channel among Linux kernel developers. It is a very high volume list, usually receiving between 200 and 300 messages each day.
Linux utilizes a workflow governed by LKML, which is the Bazaar
where kernel development takes place. In his book Linux Kernel Development, Robert Love
notes:
LKML is the central place where Linux developers around the world share patches, argue about implementation details, and discuss other issues. The official releases of Linux kernel are indicated by an email to LKML. New features are discussed and most code is posted to the list before any action is taken. It is also the official place for reporting bugs in the Linux kernel, in case one cannot find the maintainer to whom the bug should be reported. A controversial author suggests that it was on LKML that Tux
, the official Linux mascot, was suggested and refined. Many companies associated with Linux kernel make announcements and proposals on LKML; for example, Novell
, Intel, VMware
, IBM
, etc.
The list subscribers include all the Linux kernel maintainers (Linus Torvalds
, Marcelo Tosatti
, Alan Cox
, Andrew Morton
) as well as other known figures in Linux circles (such as Jeff V. Merkey, Eric S. Raymond
, etc.). A 2000 study found that 14,535 people, from at least 30 different countries, sent at least one email to LKML between 1995 and 2000 to participate in the discussion of Linux development.
Authors of books such as The Linux Kernel Development As A Model of Open Source Knowledge Creation and Motivation of Software Developers in Open Source Projects, and Recovering Device Drivers have made use of LKML for their research studies and surveys.
The newsletter Kernel Traffic used to cover the activities of the Linux-kernel mailing list. Archives of the mailing list are available on many internet websites.
Electronic mailing list
An electronic mailing list is a special usage of email that allows for widespread distribution of information to many Internet users. It is similar to a traditional mailing list — a list of names and addresses — as might be kept by an organization for sending publications to...
for Linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
development, where the majority of the announcements, discussions, debates, and flame wars over the kernel take place. Many other mailing lists exist to discuss the different subsystems and ports of the Linux kernel, but LKML is the principal communication channel among Linux kernel developers. It is a very high volume list, usually receiving between 200 and 300 messages each day.
Linux utilizes a workflow governed by LKML, which is the Bazaar
The Cathedral and the Bazaar
The Cathedral and the Bazaar is an essay by Eric S. Raymond on software engineering methods, based on his observations of the Linux kernel development process and his experiences managing an open source project, fetchmail. It examines the struggle between top-down and bottom-up design...
where kernel development takes place. In his book Linux Kernel Development, Robert Love
Robert Love
Robert M. Love is an American author, speaker, Google engineer, and open source software developer.Love is best known for his contributions to the Linux kernel, with notable work including the preemptive kernel, process scheduler, kernel event layer, virtual memory subsystem, and inotify...
notes:
LKML is the central place where Linux developers around the world share patches, argue about implementation details, and discuss other issues. The official releases of Linux kernel are indicated by an email to LKML. New features are discussed and most code is posted to the list before any action is taken. It is also the official place for reporting bugs in the Linux kernel, in case one cannot find the maintainer to whom the bug should be reported. A controversial author suggests that it was on LKML that Tux
Tux
Tux is a penguin character and the official mascot of the Linux kernel. Originally created as an entry to a Linux logo competition, Tux is the most commonly used icon for Linux, although different Linux distributions depict Tux in various styles. In video games featuring the character, female...
, the official Linux mascot, was suggested and refined. Many companies associated with Linux kernel make announcements and proposals on LKML; for example, Novell
Novell
Novell, Inc. is a multinational software and services company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Attachmate Group. It specializes in network operating systems, such as Novell NetWare; systems management solutions, such as Novell ZENworks; and collaboration solutions, such as Novell Groupwise...
, Intel, VMware
VMware
VMware, Inc. is a company providing virtualization software founded in 1998 and based in Palo Alto, California, USA. The company was acquired by EMC Corporation in 2004, and operates as a separate software subsidiary ....
, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, etc.
The list subscribers include all the Linux kernel maintainers (Linus Torvalds
Linus Torvalds
Linus Benedict Torvalds is a Finnish software engineer and hacker, best known for having initiated the development of the open source Linux kernel. He later became the chief architect of the Linux kernel, and now acts as the project's coordinator...
, Marcelo Tosatti
Marcelo Tosatti
Marcelo Wormsbecker Tosatti is a Linux kernel developer.He became the maintainer of the stable 2.4 kernel series in November 2001 when he was 18 years old, replacing Alan Cox...
, Alan Cox
Alan Cox
Alan Cox is a British computer programmer who formerly maintained the 2.2 branch of the Linux kernel and continues to be heavily involved in the development of the Linux kernel, an association that dates back to 1991...
, Andrew Morton
Andrew Morton (computer programmer)
Andrew Keith Paul Morton is an Australian software engineer, best known as one of the lead developers of the Linux kernel...
) as well as other known figures in Linux circles (such as Jeff V. Merkey, Eric S. Raymond
Eric S. Raymond
Eric Steven Raymond , often referred to as ESR, is an American computer programmer, author and open source software advocate. After the 1997 publication of The Cathedral and the Bazaar, Raymond was for a number of years frequently quoted as an unofficial spokesman for the open source movement...
, etc.). A 2000 study found that 14,535 people, from at least 30 different countries, sent at least one email to LKML between 1995 and 2000 to participate in the discussion of Linux development.
Authors of books such as The Linux Kernel Development As A Model of Open Source Knowledge Creation and Motivation of Software Developers in Open Source Projects, and Recovering Device Drivers have made use of LKML for their research studies and surveys.
The newsletter Kernel Traffic used to cover the activities of the Linux-kernel mailing list. Archives of the mailing list are available on many internet websites.
See also
- LWN.netLWN.netLWN.net is a computing webzine with an emphasis on free software and software for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It consists of a weekly issue, separate stories which are published most days, and threaded discussion attached to every story. Most news published daily are short...
, which provides a weekly LKML news digest - A semi-daily LKML Summary Podcast
- KernelTrapKernelTrapKernelTrap is a computing news website which covered topics related to the development of free and open source operating system kernels, and especially, the Linux kernel....
- ZMailerZMailerZMailer is a mail transfer agent for Linux, BSD and other Unix-like systems.It is intended for gateways or mail servers or other large site environments that have extreme demands on the abilities of the mailer....
mail transfer agent
External links
- Official FAQ of the Linux Kernel Mailing List (also at kernel.org, the official kernel development site)
- Subscribe to the Linux Kernel Mailing List
- LKML archive at Indiana University
- LKML archive at MARC (archive)MARC (archive)MARC is a computer-related mailing list archive. It archives over 31 million e-mails from over 2400 mailing lists, with approximately 320,000 new mails added per month...
- Majordomo lists at vger.kernel.org - Other Linux kernel related lists.