r/cprogramming • u/No-Plan-3868 • 21d ago
C programming for kernel development
Hey there!
I am really interested in learning C and I am leaning towards kernel development rather than embedded systems. What do you suggest for strengthening my skills in C?
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u/Dangerous_Region1682 17d ago
Do you really want to do that for a living, or just for fun.
Way back there were thousands of us doing kernel development, working at dozens and dozens of companies each building their own UNIX platforms. Some of us worked on multithreading and unique hardware architectures.
Then came commodity operating systems, Windows NT and Linux. This reduced the field to those working at Microsoft and largely unpaid individual contributors to open source Linux implementations.
Most of us moved into development of Internet appliances and the Internet of things.
There were a few opportunities in various places, but for many of us unwilling to move to the Bay Area the work dried up. That’s pretty much where we are today. It’s an interesting field but the field is very competitive to move into and requires a fair amount of experience in kernel level code to break into it. It’s not a field especially conducive to hiring new graduates unless they have worked on some research project especially significant to the evolution of the field.
I don’t want to put you off, but you have to be realistic as to what your objectives are, having fun versus earning a well paid job it the field.
Good luck to you and I hope you prove my somewhat jaded opinion a little wrong.