Linux Kernel Programming and Introduction to Yocto Project
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Linux Kernel Programming and Introduction to Yocto Project
This course is part of Advanced Embedded Linux Development Specialization
Instructor: Daniel Walkes
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What you'll learn
Fundamentals of Linux kernel development.
How to build a custom Linux kernel driver and deploy on an Embedded Device.
How to use the Yocto project to build Embedded Device images
Skills you'll gain
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There are 4 modules in this course
This course provides an introduction to Kernel Driver development for the Linux operating system. The Yocto build system is introduced, which students use to build their own custom Embedded Linux system through programming assignments. This course builds on the assignments and knowledge obtained in the Linux System Programming and Introduction to Buildroot, which must be completed before starting this course.
Linux Kernel Programming and Introduction to Yocto Project can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5306, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. This course includes specific hardware and software requirements. Please review the FAQ below for complete details.
In this module, you will learn the basics of Linux Device Drivers, including how to build and run a Linux Device Driver. You will modify the socket application you developed in the previous course and add threading. You will also be introduced to the Yocto Project and build a custom Yocto image which includes your custom socket application developed in the previous course.
What's included
11 videos5 readings2 assignments1 peer review
11 videos•Total 132 minutes
- Introduction to Device Drivers•10 minutes
- Device Drivers Overview•12 minutes
- Introduction to Kernel Modules•15 minutes
- Building and Loading Kernel Modules•12 minutes
- Kernel Module Design Basics•13 minutes
- Introduction to Yocto•14 minutes
- Building a Yocto Image•19 minutes
- Yocto/Buildroot Comparison•8 minutes
- Assignment 6 Part 1: Threading and Linked Lists•11 minutes
- Assignment 6 Part 1: Socket Server Threading Demo•9 minutes
- Assignment 6 Part 2: Yocto Environment Bringup Demo •9 minutes
5 readings•Total 41 minutes
- Course Updates and Accessibility Support•1 minute
- Non-Credit Students: Welcome and Where to Find Help•10 minutes
- Hardware & Software Requirements•10 minutes
- Assignment 6 Part 1 Instructions•10 minutes
- Assignment 6 Part 2 Instructions•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 20 minutes
- Intro to Device Drivers•10 minutes
- Building and Running Kernel Modules•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 360 minutes
- Assignment 6 Peer Review •360 minutes
In this module, you will learn about the different types of Linux Kernel drivers and the kernel support for character device drivers. You will learn about fundamental driver data structures and functions for interacting with user space. You will understand the basics of Kernel debugging and how this differs from application debugging. You will implement a unit-tested circular buffer which will be used in future assignments. Finally, you will build a Yocto embedded device image with support for an out of tree kernel module.
What's included
7 videos2 readings2 assignments1 peer review
7 videos•Total 80 minutes
- Connecting to Userspace•15 minutes
- Device Driver File Operations•17 minutes
- Device Driver and Userspace Continued•8 minutes
- Circular Buffer Implementation•11 minutes
- Assignment 7 Part 1 Demo: Circular Buffer Assignment Overview and emo•2 minutes
- Kernel Debugging•16 minutes
- Assignment 7 Part 2 Demo: Yocto and Buildroot Kernel Driver Builds•10 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
- Assignment 7 Part 1 Instructions•10 minutes
- Assignment 7 Part 2 Instructions•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 20 minutes
- Character Device Drivers•10 minutes
- Kernel Debugging Techniques•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 360 minutes
- Assignment 7 Peer Review•360 minutes
In this module, you will learn the basics of concurrency in the Linux kernel, and how to use semaphore and mutex in your device driver to design for concurrent access. You will learn the difference between atomic and non atomic context and strategies for locking in each context. You will modify your socket application to interact with a custom character device based on your tested circular buffer implementation using the concurrency concepts discussed in the module.
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
8 videos•Total 99 minutes
- Concurrency and Race Conditions•10 minutes
- Kernel Critical Sections•15 minutes
- Additional Kernel Locking Options•12 minutes
- More Fun with Locking•15 minutes
- Assignment 8 Overview•26 minutes
- Additional Kernel Debug•8 minutes
- Assignment 8 FAQ•12 minutes
- Assignment 8 Demo: Char Driver and Multithreading Concepts•2 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Assignment 8 Instructions•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
- Concurrency•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 600 minutes
- Assignment 8 Peer Review•600 minutes
In this module, you will learn the purpose and use of the ioctl command for Linux drivers and how the ioctl command is implemented in a driver. You will learn the basics of sleeping and waking up in the Linux kernel and how to handle blocking and non-blocking IO. You will modify your custom Linux kernel driver and Linux application to include ioctl support.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
6 videos•Total 71 minutes
- ioctl•15 minutes
- Sleeping in the Kernel•10 minutes
- Kernel Sleep Continued•13 minutes
- Poll and Select•10 minutes
- Assignment 9 Overview•16 minutes
- Assignment 9 Demo: Advanced Char Driver Operations•7 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Assignment 9 Instructions•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
- Advanced Char Driver Operations•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 600 minutes
- Assignment 9: Advanced Char Driver Operations•600 minutes
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This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Colorado Boulder. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
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Frequently asked questions
System Requirements
You must have access to a computer configured with the following specifications to complete this specialization:
Operating System:
Ubuntu 22.04 (64-bit) is required, but Ubuntu 20.04 (64-bit) may also be used. Other versions of Ubuntu, or other distributions, are not officially supported and may not work properly with assignment instructions.
The build system host must use an x86_64 (amd64) architecture. ARM-based systems are not supported.
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is not supported for ECEA 5306: Linux Kernel Programming and Introduction to Yocto Project, which includes Linux kernel development and Yocto projects. If you plan to continue to this course, please prepare a dedicated build host or virtual machine.
Memory (RAM):
At least 8 GB RAM is recommended. You may be able to complete assignments with less, but 4 GB or less may cause build failures.
Disk Space:
At least 200 GB of free disk space is recommended.
Hardware Requirements
While hardware is not required to complete ECEA 5305: Linux Systems Programming and Introduction to Buildroot or ECEA 5306: Linux Kernel Programming and Introduction to Yocto Project, the final course in this specialization, ECEA 5307: Linux Embedded System Topics and Projects, will require students to use embedded hardware of their choosing for the final project.
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
More questions
Financial aid available,