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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-21T03:32:26+00:00

I recently updated my rusty C skills, and I’ve been trying to find a

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I recently updated my rusty C skills, and I’ve been trying to find a project to try them out on, so I picked kernel development (after all, C is a systems language). So, I was wondering which would be easier to start out with, Linux or one of the BSDs? Linux has a larger userbase (so I would probably have more support), but it also has a humongous codebase (9 million lines last time I checked), would the BSDs be easier to start out with because they combine the userbase and kernel into one large codebase? Also, is it best to just start reading the kernel source code? And, are they trying to implement new features aside from SMP and new drivers?

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  1. Editorial Team

    I am using and developing for Linux for many years, but am lacking any real experience with BSD to recommend either way.

    You sound lacking experience for kernel hacking. Just reading kernel source might be insightful, but won’t really teach you much. There is a lot going on in Linux kernel besides drivers. For example, latest 2.6.38 was focused on desktop responsiveness. DRM stack is ever changing and could use more man power.
    I’d suggest start easy, small fixes for beta drivers, etc.

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