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{{Short description|Mailing list for Linux kernel development}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox website
|name = Linux kernel mailing list
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|url = {{URL|https://subspace.kernel.org/vger.kernel.org.html}}
|commercial =
|type = Information exchange for [[Linux kernel]] development
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|current_status = Online
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The '''Linux kernel mailing list''' ('''LKML''') is the main [[electronic mailing list]] for [[Linux kernel]] development,<ref name="kernelTraffic">{{cite web |url=http://www.kerneltraffic.org/ |title=Introduction |website=Kernel Traffic}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Gallivan |first=Michael J. |date=2001-12-29 |title=Striking a balance between trust and control in a virtual organization: a content analysis of open source software case studies |journal=Information Systems Journal |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=277–304 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2575.2001.00108.x|s2cid=11868077 }}</ref> where the majority of the announcements, discussions, debates, and [[flame war]]s over the kernel take place.<ref name="robert_love_lkd">{{cite book |last=Love |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Love |title=Linux Kernel Development |edition=2nd |date=2005-01-12 |publisher=Novell Press |isbn=978-0-672-32720-9 |chapter=Patches, Hacking, and the Community |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/linuxkerneldevel00love_0}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Llamosi |first=Albert |title=Reliable Software Technologies - Ada-Europe 2004 |series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 3063 |date=2004-07-27 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-540-22011-4}}</ref> It is a very high-volume list, usually receiving about 1,000 messages each day, most of which are kernel code [[Patch (computing)|patches]].

Linux utilizes a workflow governed by LKML,<ref>{{cite book |last=Defillippi |first=Robert |title=Knowledge at Work: Creative Collaboration in the Global Economy |edition=1st |date=2006-09-01 |publisher=Blackwell Publishing Limited |isbn=978-1-4051-0756-3 |page=168}}</ref> which is the "[[The Cathedral and the Bazaar|bazaar]]" where kernel development takes place. In his book ''Linux Kernel Development'', [[Robert Love]] notes:<ref name="robert_love_lkd"/>
{{quote|If the Linux kernel community had to exist somewhere physically, it would call the Linux Kernel Mailing List home.}}

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 magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2005/05/wired-news-releases-source-review/ |title=Wired News Releases Source Review |date=9 May 2005 |magazine=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 |author-link=Ashlee 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 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.

== Media coverage ==
The [[LWN.net]] website frequently covers discussion on the LKML, and the newsletter ''Kernel Traffic'' covered the activities of the LKML until November 2005.<ref name="kernelTraffic" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kerneltraffic.org/kernel-traffic/archives.html |title=Archives |website=Kernel Traffic}}</ref> Many internet websites include [[mailing list archive|archives]] of the mailing list, such as [https://lore.kernel.org/lkml lore.kernel.org/lkml],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lore.kernel.org/lkml |title=LKML Archive |website=lore.kernel.org}}</ref> [https://lkml.org lkml.org],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lkml.org |title=Latest messages |website=lkml.org}}</ref> [https://mail-archive.com mail-archive.com]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mail-archive.com/linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org/ |title=Messages by Thread |website=Linux Kernel}}</ref> and [[marc.info]].{{Dead link|date=March 2023}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vger.kernel.org/vger-lists.html#linux-kernel |title=Majordomo Lists |website=vger.kernel.org}}</ref>

== Linus Torvalds on LKML ==
[[Linus Torvalds]] is known for angrily disagreeing with other developers on the LKML.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-16/the-creator-of-linux-on-the-future-without-him |work=Bloomberg |first=Ashlee |last=Vance |title=The Creator of Linux on the Future Without Him |date=June 16, 2015}}</ref> Calling himself a "really unpleasant person", he later explained "I'd like to be a nice person and curse less and encourage people to grow rather than telling them they are idiots. I'm sorry{{snd}}I tried, it's just not in me."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/01/19/got_bugs_got_anger_just_get_them_out_says_linus_torvalds/ |title=Buggy? Angry? LET IT ALL OUT says Linus Torvalds |first=Simon |last=Sharwood |website=The Register |date=2015-01-19 |access-date=2015-11-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/07/passion_of_torvalds/ |title=Torvalds: I want to be nice, and curse less, but it's just not in me |first=Gavin |last=Clarke |website=The Register |date=2012-11-07 |access-date=2015-11-08}}</ref>

His attitude, which Torvalds considers necessary for making his point clear, has drawn opposition from [[Intel]] programmer [[Sage Sharp]] and [[systemd]] developer [[Lennart Poettering]], among others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.slashdot.org/story/14/10/06/1837237/lennart-poettering-open-source-community-quite-a-sick-place-to-be-in |title=Lennart Poettering: Open Source Community "Quite A Sick Place To Be In" |website=Slashdot |date=2014-10-06 |access-date=2015-11-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/943950/linux-kernel-dev-sarah-sharp-quits-citing-brutal-communications-style.html |title=Linux kernel dev Sarah Sharp quits, citing 'brutal' communications style |first=Jon |last=Gold |website=Network World |date=2015-10-05 |access-date=2015-11-08}}</ref> In 2018 Torvalds took a break from kernel development to work on improving his behavior and instituted a [[code of conduct]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Torvalds Apologizes for His 'Bad Behavior', Takes a Break from Linux |url=https://itsfoss.com/torvalds-takes-a-break-from-linux/ |first=Abhishek |last=Prakash |date=September 17, 2018 |website=It's FOSS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Linus Torvalds Is Taking A Break From Linux, Here's Why? |url=https://fossbytes.com/linus-torvalds-taking-break-from-linux/ |first=Manisha |last=Priyadarshini |date=September 17, 2018 |website=Fossbytes}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[kernel.org]]{{snd}} home site for kernel source code distribution
* [[LWN.net]]{{snd}} among other things, provides a weekly LKML news digest
* [[KernelTrap]]{{snd}} former news website

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://subspace.kernel.org/vger.kernel.org.html Subscribe to the Linux Kernel Mailing List]
* [https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/ LKML archive] at lore.kernel.org
* [http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/index.html LKML archive] at Indiana University
* [http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel LKML archive] at [[MARC (archive)]]
* [http://www.kernelpodcast.org/ A semi-daily LKML Summary Podcast]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160701221623/http://www.tux.org/lkml/ Official FAQ of the Linux Kernel Mailing List] (outdated)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190401191835/http://www.kernelhub.org/ The Linux Kernel Hub]
* [http://www.kerneltraffic.org Kernel Traffic website]

{{Linux kernel}}

[[Category:Linux kernel]]
[[Category:Electronic mailing lists]]

Linux kernel mailing list - Revision history

imported>Lokiretro: /* External links */ remove linux template