The List Is Our Process - An Analysis of the Kernel's Email-Based Development Process

Explore an in-depth analysis of the Linux kernel's email-based development process in this 47-minute conference talk from the Linux Plumbers Conference. Gain insights into the informal yet effective approach to creating high-quality, safety-critical systems without adhering to strictly defined processes. Discover how speakers Ralf Ramsauer, Wolfgang Mauerer, and Lukas Bulwahn identify core properties, strengths, and weaknesses in kernel development by tracking component evolution from initial mailing list submissions to final merged contributions. Learn about heuristics for identifying patch evolution, matching patch emails to git commits, and the extensive data set curated from over 200 kernel-related mailing lists. Examine observations on average patch submission timelines, off-list patches, and ignored patches. Engage with the speakers' vision for integrating this information into the patchwork tool and refining prototypes to benefit Linux kernel developers and maintainers in their daily work. Contribute to the discussion on the potential development of a future kernel maintainers handbook.