Linux kernel mailing list

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

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|name = Linux kernel mailing list

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|url = {{URL|https://subspace.kernel.org/vger.kernel.org.html}}

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|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,{{cite web |url=http://www.kerneltraffic.org/ |title=Introduction |website=Kernel Traffic}}{{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 }} where the majority of the announcements, discussions, debates, and flame wars over the kernel take place.{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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,{{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}} which is the "bazaar" where kernel development takes place. In his book Linux Kernel Development, Robert Love notes:

{{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. The official releases of the Linux kernel are indicated by an email to LKML.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}} New features are discussed and most code is posted to the list before any action is taken. 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.{{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}} Author Michelle Delio suggests that it was on LKML that Tux, the official Linux mascot, was suggested and refined,{{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}} although the accuracy of her reporting in other stories has been disputed.{{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}} Many companies associated with Linux kernel make announcements and proposals on LKML; for example, Novell,{{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}} Intel,{{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}}{{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}} VMware,{{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}}{{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}} and IBM.{{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}}

The list subscribers include all the Linux kernel maintainers as well as other known figures in Linux circles, such as Jeff V. Merkey{{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}} and Eric S. Raymond.{{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}} 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.{{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}}

Authors of books such as The Linux Kernel Development As A Model of Open Source Knowledge Creation and Motivation of Software Developers in Open Source Projects,{{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}} and Recovering Device Drivers{{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}} have made use of LKML for their research studies and surveys.