Linux kernel mailing list: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:13, 27 September 2021

Revision as of 01:05, 22 March 2022

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The LKML functions as the central place where Linux developers around the world share patches, argue about implementation details, and discuss other issues.<ref name="kernelTraffic"/> The official releases of the Linux kernel are indicated by an email to LKML.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Justin R. |last=Erenkrantz |title=Release Management Within Open Source Projects |publisher=Institute for Software Research, [[University of California]] |url=http://pascal.case.unibz.it/retrieve/3442/OSSE3-Erenkrantz.pdf |access-date=2007-03-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194517/http://pascal.case.unibz.it/retrieve/3442/OSSE3-Erenkrantz.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Linux-kernel-to-be-suitable-for-enterprise/0,139023166,120107594,00.htm |title=Linux kernel to be suitable for enterprise |first=Peter |last=Galli |date=13 December 2000 |website=ZDNet Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609133017/http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Linux-kernel-to-be-suitable-for-enterprise/0,139023166,120107594,00.htm |archive-date=2009-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-247983.html |title=Test version of new Linux kernel available |first=Stephen |last=Shankland |date=2 January 2002 |website=CNet}}</ref> New features are discussed and most code is posted to the list before any action is taken.<ref name="robert_love_lkd"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/docs/lkml/reporting-bugs.html |title=Reporting bugs for the Linux kernel |first=Richard |last=Gooch |website=Linux Kernel Archives}}</ref> Author [[Michelle Delio]] suggests that it was on LKML that [[Tux (mascot)|Tux]], the official Linux mascot, was suggested and refined,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/9605/index.html#119 |title=Re: Linux logo |date=May 1996 |website=Linux-Kernel Archive}}</ref> although the accuracy of her reporting in other stories has been disputed.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/2005/05/wired-news-releases-source-review/ |title=Wired News Releases Source Review |date=9 May 2005 |work=WIRED |access-date=2018-01-14 |language=en-US}}</ref> Many companies associated with Linux kernel make announcements and proposals on LKML; for example, [[Novell]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/novell-introduces-linux-kernel-debugger/ |title=Novell introduces Linux kernel debugger |first=Stephen |last=Shankland |date=July 1, 2005 |website=CNet}}</ref> [[Intel]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/intel-red-hat-cure-open-source-hiccup/ |title=Intel, Red Hat cure open-source hiccup |first=Stephen |last=Shankland |date=17 February 2003 |website=CNet}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0212.0/1387.html |title=Proposed ACPI Licensing change |first=Andrew |last=Grover |date=6 December 2002 |website=Linux-Kernel Archive}}</ref> [[VMware]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/04/20/vmware_linux_xen/page2.html |title=Linux team tells VMware and Xen to get their acts together |first=Ashlee |last=Vance |date=20 April 2006 |website=The Register}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://lwn.net/Articles/175457/ |title=VMI i386 Linux virtualization interface proposal |first=Zachary |last=Amsden |date=13 March 2006 |website=[[LWN.net]]}}</ref> and [[IBM]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kernel-traffic.org/kernel-traffic/kt20010709_125.txt |title=IBM announces Journaled File System v 1.0.0 |last1=Adam |first1=Buchbinder |last2=Zack |first2=Brown |date=9 July 2001 |website=Kernel Traffic |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928191837/http://www.kernel-traffic.org/kernel-traffic/kt20010709_125.txt |archive-date=2007-09-28}}</ref>

The list subscribers include all the [[Linux kernel#Maintenance_and_long-term_support|Linux kernel maintainers]] as well as other known figures in Linux circles, such as Jeff V. Merkey<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/2006010200126OSCYKN |title=Linus tells Merkey, "Cry me a river" |date=January 2, 2006 |website=Linux Today |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104083001/http://www.linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/2006010200126OSCYKN |archive-date=January 4, 2006}}</ref> and [[Eric S. Raymond]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://linux.sys-con.com/read/32722_2.htm |title=Linus tries to make himself scale |first=Joe |last=Barr |date=February 11, 2002 |website=Linux.sys-con.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210757/http://linux.sys-con.com/read/32722_2.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref> 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.<ref name="gwendolyn_model">{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Gwendolyn K. |last2=Cole |first2=Robert E. |title=The Linux Kernel Development As A Model of Open Source Knowledge Creation |publisher=Haas School of Business, [[University of California]] |date=December 2000 |url=http://pascal.case.unibz.it/retrieve/3302/lee00linux.pdf |access-date=2007-03-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194148/http://pascal.case.unibz.it/retrieve/3302/lee00linux.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref>

Authors of books such as ''The Linux Kernel Development As A Model of Open Source Knowledge Creation''<ref name="gwendolyn_model"/> and ''Motivation of Software Developers in Open Source Projects'',<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Guido |last1=Hertel |first2=Sven |last2=Niedner |first3=Stefanie |last3=Herrmann |name-list-style=amp |title=Motivation of Software Developers in Open Source Projects |publisher=[[University of Kiel]], Institut fuer Psychologie |url=http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/rp-hertelniednerherrmann.pdf |access-date=2007-03-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109221342/http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/rp-hertelniednerherrmann.pdf |archive-date=2006-11-09}}</ref> and ''Recovering Device Drivers''<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Michael M. |last1=Swift |first2=Muthukaruppan |last2=Annamalai |first3=Brian N. |last3=Bershad |first4=Henry M. |last4=Levy |name-list-style=amp |title=Recovering Device Drivers |journal=Proceedings of the 6th Symposium on Operating Systems Design and Implementation |publisher=[[University of Washington]] |url=http://www.usenix.org/events/osdi04/tech/swift/swift_html/ |access-date=2007-03-13}}</ref> have made use of LKML for their research studies and surveys.