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

1. 30% Discount Coupon Issued for Breaking 500 Members🙏

To commemorate breaking 500 students in the Linux Kernel course, we are issuing a 30% discount coupon. Thank you. First come, first served for 100 people.

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2. Roadmap Guide 🎯

This lecture is a roadmap'Linux kernel - basic course for system software developers'is included in the course.

System semiconductors, automotive sector, etc.

System software developers must know the Linux kernel

What is the most widely used operating system across all IT devices? It's the Linux operating system. It is used in smartphones, digital TVs, aviation entertainment systems, and servers. System semiconductor companies utilize Linux (Linux device drivers) to control the hardware they design. Additionally, Linux is extensively used in various components of electric vehicles (Automotive) such as infotainment, autonomous driving, and telematics.

The core of the Linux operating system is the Linux kernel. Along with the Armv8-A architecture, the Linux kernel can be considered the content that requires the most essential foundational knowledge currently needed in the system software industry.

Linux system software developers and Linux embedded system (BSP) programmers, pay attention!

However, the Linux kernel is like a massive barrier for beginners in the field of system software. Beginners likely have experienced giving up on learning the Linux kernel multiple times. That difficult Linux kernel is becoming increasingly complex as it evolves through version upgrades.After 2024, the Linux kernel version will be upgraded to v6.6 or higherHowever, the barriers to entry are becoming higher.

Linux system software developers deployed across various fields including system semiconductors and electric vehicles know that they need to understand the Linux kernel well to enhance their development capabilities. However, they find it difficult to grasp how to learn the Linux kernel and, most importantly, what content they should know well for practical work.

The core of Linux device driver development: interrupts

What do you do when you first start as a Linux system software developer? Although it depends on the nature and mission of the project, most developers work on Linux device drivers. When developing Linux device drivers, one of the elements you must implement and optimize is interrupts. Additionally, interrupts are closely related to many major functions that make up the Linux kernel. They are deeply connected with interrupt bottom-half techniques, dynamic timers, preemptive scheduling, and signal operations.

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

Differentiation Points of the Course

This lecture consists of content that has never been covered on YouTube or any other lecture platform before! We debug interrupt operation methods and related data structures through Linux kernel memory dumps. Those taking this lecture can download an educational program (TRACE32) and practice directly.

You'll learn this kind of content

First, I'll explain how interrupts are handled and describe the flow of interrupt processing from various perspectives.

This provides a detailed explanation of the entire execution flow when interrupts are triggered in the Linux kernel and user applications from the Armv8 architecture perspective.

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

We analyze the Armv8 exception vector table when an interrupt is triggered from a user application. We then provide a detailed analysis of the exception handler routine that follows, down to the assembly instruction level.

Analyze the flow of interrupt processing from a big picture perspective and provide detailed explanations of functions executed in the IRQ subsystem (not dependent on Arm architecture).

We analyze interrupt-related data structures using TRACE32 and Crash-utility debugging programs.

I'm debugging the interrupt handler function bcm2835_mmc_irq() using TRACE32. I'll analyze the interrupt handler source code in detail along with the call stack and related data structures.

Introduces interrupt context and explains example code that can check interrupt context.

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

This provides a detailed explanation of how Preemption operates after completing the execution of an interrupt service routine. It also performs detailed debugging of the operations during Preemption using the TRACE32 debugging program.

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

Detailed analysis of kernel source code that outputs ftrace messages for tracing interrupt operations.

Educational TRACE32 program and 6 Linux kernel memory dumps provided

In this lecture, we will cover the most advanced debugging method in the Linux system software industry -Global top-tier system semiconductor company, Qualcomm Linux kernel developers debugging- How to debug Linux kernel memory dumps is introduced. You can debug key data structures of interrupts using debugging programs such as TRACE32 and Crash utility.

Based on book writing/teaching experience
Deeper and more detailed than anyone else!

In the domestic system software field, I am the unprecedented author of the 'Linux Kernel' book and 'Arm Architecture (Armv8-A, Armv7-A)' book. I am also a current industry developer who knows the latest system software trends (electric vehicles, system semiconductors - system software) best, and an educator who is most actively engaged in knowledge dissemination activities in the system software field.

• 'Learning Linux Kernel Structure and Principles Through Debugging' (2021 Korea Academy Outstanding Book Award) Author

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

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

• June 2022, Korea Computer Congress (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 an educator who can explain the key functions that make up the Linux kernel better than anyone else in Korea.

Pre-enrollment Reference Information