# torvalds/linux

Linux kernel source tree

Repository: https://github.com/torvalds/linux
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/linux
Language: C
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Last push: 2026-08-25T21:32:30+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 77/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 5477, "days_push": 8, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases, no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 244454, forks 64111 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:10.664337+00:00)

## What it is
The official source tree of the Linux kernel, the core of Linux operating systems that manages hardware, system resources, and fundamental services for all other software. It is developed collaboratively and serves as the foundation for distributions, embedded devices, servers, and Android.

## Use cases
- build a custom Linux kernel for my hardware
- write a device driver for new hardware
- study operating system kernel internals
- harden and analyze kernel security
- maintain a stable kernel backport
- contribute patches to the Linux kernel

## When to choose
- you need the actual kernel source to build, patch, or customize Linux
- you are developing or upstreaming device drivers or kernel subsystems
- you are researching kernel architecture, scheduling, memory management, or security

## When to avoid
- you just want to install and use a Linux distribution - use distro packages or kernel.org releases instead
- you need a userspace application or library rather than kernel code

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: stable
- function: embedded, networking, file-system, security, concurrency
- domain: operating-systems, embedded-systems, hardware, security, networking, developer-tools
- platform: embedded, c
- tags: kernel, operating-system, drivers, system-software, c, operating-systems, driver, linux

## Member repositories
- torvalds/linux (main) score 77

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:10.664337+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 2026-08-29T16:10:20.137391+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/torvalds/linux (fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:10.664337+00:00, sha 34a170e4d691)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.