Greg Kroah-Hartman has a very good tutorial about writing and submitting a patch to the Linux kernel. The video is over 1 year old but this is still relevant.
The materials for this tutorial are available via git:
git clone git://github.com/gregkh/kernel-tutorial.git
Alternatively, you can also download a copy of the presentation slides.
The actual presentation is divided into 6 parts:
- git basics (git branch, git clone…)
- Kernel coding style (Details can be found in Documentation/CodingStyle)
- Fixing a file (with scripts/checkpatch.pl scripts)
- Generating a patch (with git -diff)
- Email the patch (with scripts/get_maintainer.pl and git send-email)
- Q&A
If you want to skip the git basics and kernel coding style parts (although I don’t recommend it), fast forward to 13:33.
All patches by in the linux kernel are checked by at least 2 persons. Before submitting a patch, you’ll have to make sure of the following (Checklist):
- Kernel builds with patch applied
- Correct “From:” address
- Concise “Subject:”
- Explain the patch
- Signed-of- by
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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