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Linux Kernel & Module Developer Quick-Start Guide

TunaOS gives kernel developers, module authors, and eBPF engineers a host that stays stable while you build, boot, and debug a kernel.

Key Advantages for Kernel Engineers​

  1. Stable Host OS: The system files in /usr are read-only. A test module does not damage the host that you work on each day.
  2. Instant Host Rollback: If a custom kernel does not boot, select the earlier deployment in GRUB. That brings your desktop back.
  3. Isolated QEMU/KVM Sandboxes: Boot a target kernel in QEMU with KVM acceleration. Share a directory into it with virtio-fs.

Workstation Toolchain Setup​

1. Install the Build and Debug Tools​

Homebrew supplies the compiler and the cache:

brew install gcc ccache sparse

pahole ships in the dwarves package, and the kselftest targets live in the kernel source tree under tools/testing/selftests. Get both from your base image or layer them with bootc, and check that they are present before you start a build.

2. Kernel Testing in QEMU/KVM​

Boot the kernel you built inside a virtual machine:

qemu-system-x86_64 -enable-kvm -m 4G -smp 4 -kernel arch/x86/boot/bzImage -append "console=ttyS0 root=/dev/sda rw" -nographic