OSS + ELC EU 2026

When starting with Linux kernel development, beginners quickly encounter a frustrating roadblock: system crashes that produce absolutely no output, neither on the screen nor in the logs. Fortunately, Linux provides a rich toolbox designed to extract debug information even in the most desperate situations. The main challenge is knowing which tool fits a specific scenario and what data to expect.

In this talk, Richard shares practical guidance on the debugging mechanisms he has relied on over his past decade of working inside the Linux kernel. Attendees will learn how to break through the silence by deploying the right tool for the right type of crash. Besides well known mechanisms such as earlyprintk, pstore, and ftrace, Richard will reveal lesser known Linux debugging gems used to capture logs from freezing systems, trace internal behavior, and retrieve postmortem panic data.

By the end of the talk, beginners will have a clear and actionable roadmap for diagnosing actual kernel issues, ensuring they know exactly what to do the next time the kernel suddenly goes quiet.