Linux kernel mailing list

The Linux kernel mailing list (LKML) is the main electronic mailing list for Linux kernel development,<ref name="kernelTraffic">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> where the majority of the announcements, discussions, debates, and flame wars over the kernel take place.<ref name="robert_love_lkd">Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite book</ref> It is a very high-volume list, usually receiving about 1,000 messages each day, most of which are kernel code patches.

Linux utilizes a workflow governed by LKML,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> which is the "bazaar" where kernel development takes place. In his book Linux Kernel Development, Robert Love notes:<ref name="robert_love_lkd"/> Template:Quote

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>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref> Author Michelle Delio suggests that it was on LKML that Tux, the official Linux mascot, was suggested and refined,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> although the accuracy of her reporting in other stories has been disputed.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Many companies associated with Linux kernel make announcements and proposals on LKML; for example, Novell,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Intel,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> VMware,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and IBM.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The list subscribers include all the Linux kernel maintainers as well as other known figures in Linux circles, such as Jeff V. Merkey<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Eric S. Raymond.<ref>Template:Cite web</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">Template:Cite journal</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>Template:Cite journal</ref> and Recovering Device Drivers<ref>Template:Cite journal</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>Template:Cite web</ref> Many internet websites include archives of the mailing list, such as lore.kernel.org/lkml,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> lkml.org,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> mail-archive.com<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and marc.info.Template:Dead link<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Linus Torvalds on LKML

Linus Torvalds is known for angrily disagreeing with other developers on the LKML.<ref>Template:Cite news</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 sorryTemplate:SndI tried, it's just not in me."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018 Torvalds took a break from kernel development to work on improving his behavior and instituted a code of conduct.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• kernel.orgTemplate:Snd home site for kernel source code distribution
• LWN.netTemplate:Snd among other things, provides a weekly LKML news digest
• KernelTrapTemplate:Snd former news website

External links

• Subscribe to the Linux Kernel Mailing List
• LKML archive at lore.kernel.org
• LKML archive at Indiana University
• LKML archive at MARC (archive)
• A semi-daily LKML Summary Podcast
• Official FAQ of the Linux Kernel Mailing List (outdated)
• The Linux Kernel Hub
• Kernel Traffic website