# cirosantilli/linux-kernel-module-cheat

The perfect emulation setup to study and develop the Linux kernel, kernel modules, QEMU, gem5 and x86_64, ARMv7 and ARMv8 userland and baremetal assembly, ANSI C, C++ and POSIX. GDB step debug and KGDB just work. Powered by Buildroot and crosstool-NG. Highly automated. Thoroughly documented. Automated tests. "Tested" in an Ubuntu 24.04 host.

Repository: https://github.com/cirosantilli/linux-kernel-module-cheat
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/linux-kernel-module-cheat
Homepage: https://cirosantilli.com/linux-kernel-module-cheat
Language: Python
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: buildroot, linux-kernel, qemu, gdb, kgdb, linux-kernel-module
Last push: 2026-06-16T06:03:49+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 62/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 87, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3686, "days_push": 78, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_readme
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 4508, forks 618 (observed 2026-08-28T04:08:52.556832+00:00)

## What it is
A highly automated, thoroughly documented emulation setup for studying and developing the Linux kernel, kernel modules, QEMU, gem5, and userland/baremetal assembly across x86_64 and ARM. Everything builds from source via Buildroot and crosstool-NG, with working GDB step debugging, KGDB, and automated tests.

## Use cases
- learn linux kernel development with qemu emulation
- debug kernel modules with gdb and kgdb
- build linux kernel and buildroot from source
- study arm and x86_64 baremetal assembly
- set up a gem5 simulation environment
- experiment with kernel hacks in a sandboxed vm

## When to choose
- you want a reproducible, fully-from-source kernel development and debugging environment
- you are learning kernel internals, modules, or systems programming on x86_64 or ARM
- you need GDB/KGDB step debugging of the kernel and userland out of the box

## When to avoid
- you only need to build or package a kernel for production deployment
- you want a lightweight tutorial without heavy Docker/QEMU build requirements
- you work exclusively on non-Linux hosts without Docker support

## Facets
- artifact type: learning-resource
- maturity: active
- function: developer-tools, simulation, testing, documentation
- domain: operating-systems, developer-tools, education, embedded-systems
- platform: cli
- tags: linux-kernel, kernel-modules, qemu, buildroot, gem5, gdb, kgdb, emulation, arm, x86-64, baremetal, assembly, linux, docker

## Member repositories
- cirosantilli/linux-kernel-module-cheat (main) score 62

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:52.556832+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T18:20:21.623293+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - homepage: https://cirosantilli.com/linux-kernel-module-cheat (fetched 2026-08-29T09:06:19.180881+00:00, sha 5ea0e6128b47)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.