Building a Tiny Linux Kernel + System V ABI Deep Dive (x86_64) | Linux Kernel Hacking
Welcome to a deep dive into the world of minimal Linux kernel builds and low-level system programming! In this video, we’ll take you step-by-step through building a tiny Linux kernel using tinyconfig, a configuration designed to give you a bootable kernel with the bare minimum components.
00:00 - Intro: What We’re Building
00:12 - How to clone the Kernel Source
00:25 - Setting up tinyconfig for Building your Kernel
01:00 - Tweaking the config using menuconfig
02:10 - Building the Kernel
02:48 - Booting the Kernel with QEMU
03:05 - Creating a custom init process
04:33 - Writing custom write method instead of libc write
06:58 - Creating a initramfs for your init process
07:37 - Creating a linux iso image with tiny kernel and custom initramfs
08:48 - Booting the Linux ISO image with QEMU
09:25 - Demystifying the approach taken for building the init process
10:20 - Lets dive deeper using GDB (Disassemble the methods)
11:54 - Register Usage in x86_64 System V ABI
14:15 - How Arguments Are Passed in x86_64 for Linux Kernel Interface.
15:05 - How libc write method works
16:52 - Disassembling init binary with GDB
18:41 - Outro
We’ll run this kernel in QEMU, a lightweight emulator perfect for fast testing and development.
Then, we’ll shift gears to break down the System V Application Binary Interface (ABI) — the fundamental set of rules that govern how functions are called, how data is passed, and how user-space applications interact with kernel-space functions, particularly in x86 architecture.
You’ll learn:
How to configure and build a tiny kernel
How to boot it using QEMU
What the System V ABI is and why it matters
Register usage and argument-passing rules in x86
How function calls work across user and kernel space
Why understanding ABI is essential for systems and kernel developers
Whether you're a systems programming enthusiast, a Linux geek, or prepping for OS-level interviews, this video is for you.
🔧 Tools Used:
Linux Kernel source
tinyconfig
QEMU emulator
x86 architecture
GNU toolchain
📚 Perfect for:
OS Developers
Hobbyists in low-level programming
Linux and QEMU learners
Students building their first kernel
Anyone curious about what happens behind the scenes in system calls
🧠 Don't just run Linux. Understand it.
SnatchDreams - Its Insane Here
#linux #kernel #tinykernel #linuxkernel #qemu #systemv #abi #x86 #callconvention #linuxfromscratch #registers #userspace #kernelspace #osdev #sysprog #linuxhacking #linuxbuild #qemututorial #SnatchDreams
