Linux Kernel Structure and Principles: Interrupts [Author's Direct Lecture Part 1-5]

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This lecture <Structure and Principles of the Linux Kernel: Interrupt [Author's Direct Lecture Part 1-5]> is a roadmap 'Linux kernel - basic course for system software developers' This lecture is included in .

System semiconductors, automotive fields, etc.

Linux Kernel: A Must-Know for System Software Developers

What is the most used operating system in all IT devices? It is the Linux operating system. It is used in smart phones, digital TVs, aviation entertainment systems, and servers. System semiconductor companies use Linux (Linux device drivers) to control the hardware they design. Linux is also widely used in various components (infotainment, autonomous driving, telematics) that make up electric vehicles (Automotive).

The core of the Linux operating system is the Linux kernel. Along with the Armv8-A architecture, the Linux kernel can be considered the most essential foundational knowledge required in the current system software industry.

Attention Linux System Software Developers and Linux Embedded System (BSP) Programmers!

However, the Linux kernel is a huge barrier for beginners in the field of system software. Beginners may have given up several times while learning the Linux kernel. The difficult Linux kernel version is evolving more and more complex as it is upgraded. After 2024, the Linux kernel version will be upgraded to v6.6 or higher , which makes the entry barrier higher.

Linux system software developers who are deployed in various fields including system semiconductors and electric vehicles know that they need to know the Linux kernel well to improve their development capabilities. However, it is difficult to get a sense of how to learn the Linux kernel and, above all, what content they need to know well in practice.

Interrupts, the core of Linux device driver development

What do you do when you first start as a Linux system software developer? It depends on the nature and mission of the project, but most of you develop Linux device drivers. When developing Linux device drivers, one of the elements that you must implement and optimize is interrupts. Interrupts are also closely related to the main functions that make up the Linux kernel. They are closely related to the latter half of interrupt techniques, dynamic timers, preemptive scheduling, and signal behavior.

So, I explain interrupts in Chapter 5 of my book, 'The Structure and Principles of the Linux Kernel'. I structured it so that readers can learn about interrupts through ftrace debugging practice in various ways.

Differentiating Points of the Lecture

This lecture consists of content that has never been covered on YouTube or any other lecture platform before ! We will debug the interrupt operation method and related data structure through Linux kernel memory dump. Those who take this lecture can download the educational program (TRACE32) and practice it themselves.

Learn about these things

First, we will explain how interrupts are handled and explain the flow of interrupt handling from various perspectives.

This section details the entire execution flow when an interrupt is triggered in the Linux kernel and user applications from the Armv8 architecture perspective.

We analyze the Armv8 exception vector table when an interrupt is triggered in the Linux kernel. We then analyze the exception handler routines that are processed in detail.

We analyze the Armv8 exception vector table when an interrupt is triggered in a user application. We then analyze the exception handler routine being processed in detail down to the assembly instruction level.

It breaks down the interrupt processing flow into a high-level view and details the functions executed in the IRQ subsystem (which is independent of the Arm architecture).

Analyze interrupt-related data structures using the TRACE32 and Crash-utility debugging programs.

Debug the interrupt handler bcm2835_mmc_irq() function with TRACE32. Analyze the interrupt handler source code in detail, along with the call stack and related data structures.

Introduces interrupt context and provides example code to check interrupt context.

We analyze the kernel source code that enables interrupt context. We explain why kernel functions that enter from sleep should not be called in interrupt context, and we introduce exception handling code when acquiring a mutex as an example.

We will explain in detail how Preemption works after the execution of the interrupt service routine is finished. We will also debug the operation when Preemption is done in detail using the TRACE32 debugging program.

Introduces how to set up ftrace events to trace the behavior of interrupts. It explains the execution flow of interrupt handlers and the conditions of the interrupt context while analyzing ftrace messages in detail.

We will closely examine the kernel source code that prints ftrace messages tracing the behavior of interrupts.

Provides educational TRACE32 program and 6 Linux kernel memory dumps

In this lecture, we will introduce how to debug Linux kernel memory dumps , the most advanced debugging method in the Linux system software industry - debugging by Linux kernel developers at Qualcomm, a world-class system semiconductor company . You can debug the main data structures of interrupts using debugging programs such as TRACE32 and Crash utility.

Based on my experience writing books and giving lectures
More in-depth and detailed than anyone else!

The author of the book 'Linux Kernel' and 'Arm Architecture (Armv8-A, Armv7-A)', which is unprecedented in the domestic system software field! He is also a working developer who knows the latest system software trends (electric vehicles, system semiconductors - system software) the best, and an educator who is most active in spreading knowledge in the system software field.

• Author of 'Learning the Structure and Principles of the Linux Kernel through Debugging' ( 2021, Korean Academy of Sciences Outstanding Book Award )

• Author of 'Structure and Principles of Arm Architecture for System Software Development' ( 2024, Korean Academy of Sciences Outstanding Book Award )

• 'Programmers Dev Course: Linux System and Kernel Expert' Main Instructor

• June 2022, Korea Computer Conference (KCC2022) - Tutorial presentation [Conquering the Linux Kernel using ftrace]

• LG Electronics 'Linux Kernel' and 'Armv8 Architecture' In-house Instructor ( including domestic and overseas developers ) - (2020~2024)

I can confidently say that I am the educator who can explain the major functions that make up the Linux kernel better than anyone else in the country.

Things to note before taking the class