TECH VEDA

LSE / eLinux Fast-Track / Mastery track starts 25 Jun 2026 — enrolling now. See the Fast-Track
✉ info@techveda.org☏ Show number
Login
Enquire now
Home › Training Programs › Linux Systems Engineering
Enrolling now

Stop coding against the OS — start engineering with it, for the AI era

Linux Systems Engineering

A career-defining program that builds the core engineering mindset needed in today's AI-driven world. Go deeper than application coding — into how operating systems, processes, memory and performance-critical software really work — and become a system-level problem solver.

🧠 System-level depth
🧪 Fully hands-on
💻 No special hardware needed
Enroll now ★★★★★ Rated by 10,000+ engineers trained since 2003

OverviewAbout this program

Linux Systems Engineering takes you from writing application code to thinking like the operating system. You work hands-on in C against a real Linux kernel — from the compiler pipeline and the kernel build, through processes, memory and concurrency, to high-performance and event-driven I/O, IPC and socket programming.

Every concept is taught lab-intensive: build it, break it, and debug it until the behaviour is yours. You leave fluent at the user–kernel boundary and ready to step confidently into kernel and device-driver work — the foundation today’s cloud, embedded and AI systems are built on.

Two ways to enrol

Take it standalone — or as part of the Fast-Track combo

Linux Systems Engineering is also the foundation program of the Embedded Linux Fast-Track. Enrol in just this program, or take the Fast-Track combo — this plus Embedded Linux on edge-AI — to go all the way to building and shipping on edge, at a combo saving of ₹7,000.

This program
Linux Systems Engineering on its own · live & mentor-led · starts 25 Jun 2026.
Enrol in this program
Fast-Track combo Save ₹7,000
This + Embedded Linux on edge-AI · the fastest path to build & ship on edge.
Explore the Fast-Track →

OutcomesWhat you'll be able to do

  • ✓ Fluency at the user–kernel boundary: how syscalls, the C library, and the kernel cooperate
  • ✓ The ability to build a Linux kernel from source and write & load your own kernel modules
  • ✓ Mastery of processes, threads, memory, signals, timers, I/O multiplexing, IPC, and sockets
  • ✓ A systems engineer's instinct for debugging, profiling, and designing for performance and concurrency
Hands-on

What you'll build

  • A high-concurrency, event-driven network server (epoll, non-blocking I/O)
  • A scalable multithreaded engine with fine-grained synchronization
  • A container runtime from first principles — namespaces, cgroups & isolation
  • Zero-copy, high-throughput I/O paths (mmap, vectored & async I/O)
  • A high-performance IPC layer over shared memory & futexes
Career outcomes

Roles you'll be ready for

Linux systems programmerApplication & middleware engineerPlatform / OS engineerPerformance & reliability engineer

Curriculum14 modules · processes, memory, concurrency, IPC and networking

Master Linux from the ground up — from processes, memory and concurrency to high-performance and event-driven I/O, IPC and sockets, finishing with building a kernel and your first module — the bridge to kernel and driver work.

01From Source Code to Running Process⌄
  • The GCC compilation pipeline: preprocess, compile, assemble, link
  • From C to x86 assembly: calling conventions, stack frames, 32-bit vs 64-bit code
  • Static and dynamic libraries; shared objects and position-independent code
  • Runtime dynamic loading and symbol resolution
  • Program startup, constructors, and initialization order
02Processes, Forking & Isolation⌄
  • Process creation and copy-on-write
  • Parent–child synchronization and exit status
  • Process groups and sessions
  • Threads and processes via the clone primitive
  • Namespace isolation (PID, UTS)
03Inside Process Memory⌄
  • The process virtual address space and the heap
  • Memory allocators: arenas, tuning, and statistics
  • Heap internals: bins, caches, and consolidation
  • Common memory bugs: overflows, use-after-free, double-free
  • Memory locking and residency
04Taking Control of the Scheduler⌄
  • Scheduler policies and the fair scheduler
  • Real-time scheduling (FIFO, round-robin)
  • Deadline scheduling
  • CPU affinity
  • Process daemonization
05Multithreading & Concurrency⌄
  • Thread creation, attributes, and lifecycle
  • Mutexes, read-write locks, and spinlocks
  • Condition variables, barriers, and semaphores
  • Producer–consumer patterns
  • Thread cancellation and cleanup
  • Thread-local storage and modern thread extensions
  • Race conditions, atomic operations, and mutual exclusion strategies
06Signal-Driven Programming⌄
  • Signal handling and dispositions
  • Signal sets and masking
  • Real-time signals
  • Signal-driven event loops and async-signal safety
07Timers & Precision Timing⌄
  • Interval timers and timeouts
  • POSIX per-process timers
  • File-descriptor timers for event loops
08High-Performance File I/O⌄
  • File descriptors, positional and vectored I/O
  • File metadata and access hints
  • Memory-mapped I/O
  • Asynchronous I/O
09Scalable Event-Driven I/O⌄
  • Blocking I/O and readiness models
  • Scalable event interfaces: poll and epoll
  • Level- vs edge-triggered event handling
  • Modern event file descriptors: signals, timers, events, and file-change notification
10Inter-Process Communication (IPC)⌄
  • Pipes and named FIFOs
  • System V IPC: message queues, shared memory, semaphores
  • POSIX IPC: message queues, shared memory, semaphores
11Network Programming with Sockets⌄
  • Unix domain sockets and credential passing
  • TCP communication
  • UDP communication and service discovery
  • Netlink sockets for kernel communication
12Containers from First Principles — Namespaces & cgroups⌄
  • The clone, unshare and setns namespace APIs
  • Mount, PID, network, user, IPC and UTS namespaces
  • Control groups (cgroups v2): resource limits and accounting
  • Capabilities and rootless isolation
  • pivot_root, overlay roots and seccomp sandboxing
  • Building a minimal container runtime by hand
13Building the Linux Kernel⌄
  • User space vs kernel space
  • Kernel source tree and configuration
  • The kbuild system and kernel image build
  • Kernel modules, initramfs, and boot setup
  • Booting and testing a custom kernel on x86-64 and ARM64
  • Cross-compiling the kernel for ARM64
14Writing Your First Kernel Module⌄
  • Loadable kernel modules and their structure
  • Out-of-tree module builds against kernel headers
  • Loading, unloading, and inspecting modules
  • Kernel logging and the kernel message buffer
  • Module parameters and metadata
  • Symbol exports and inter-module dependencies
  • A first character-device module

LabsRecommended hardware

This program is delivered on the Linux-x86 platform, so you do not require any specific hardware or boards.

Linux-x86 environmentAny x86 laptop/desktop running Linux (or a Linux VM) is all you need to follow along.

Before you startPrerequisites

Aspiring participants need a working knowledge of C (pointers, structs, memory) and basic comfort with the Linux command line.

AudienceWho should enroll

Application EngineersEmbedded EngineersSystems ProgrammersCloud / DevOps EngineersAI/ML EngineersCareer AspirantsBackend / Infrastructure EngineersPerformance EngineersSRE / Platform EngineersCS graduates moving into systems-level roles
  • ✓ Developers moving from application programming into systems, kernel, or embedded work
  • ✓ Embedded / Linux engineers who want a rigorous syscall-level foundation
  • ✓ Engineers preparing for performance, concurrency, and reliability-critical roles

Your mentorLearn directly from the founder

Raghu Bharadwaj

Raghu Bharadwaj

Chief Mentor

75+ onsite trainings · 45+ happy clients · 10,000+ careers transformed since 2003. Author of "Mastering Linux Kernel Development" and a thought leader in Embedded Linux education — the architect of TECH VEDA's hands-on, unlearn-and-relearn training model.

ReviewsWhat participants say

★★★★★

"Raghu Sir starts from the very basics and ends with complete insight. With 3 years of experience, I'm completely satisfied with the teaching and the topics covered."

MK
Murali KrishnaEmbedded Engineer
★★★★★

"There are no words to describe Raghu Sir's knowledge of operating systems and device drivers. I'm now working at MediaTek — the credit goes to Raghu Sir and TECH VEDA."

AB
AbhishekEngineer, MediaTek
★★★★★

"An exceptional teacher who makes learning enjoyable and effective — explaining complex concepts clearly with real-life examples. The dedication and enthusiasm truly inspire."

AH
Altaf HussainSoftware Engineer

FAQsCommon questions

What is the relevance of Linux systems programming in today's job market?+
Learning Linux Systems Programming not only ushers in a new perspective on the application-building ecosystem but, more importantly, builds the core foundational skills of Memory Concepts, IPC, Sockets and Threads — skills that form the backbone of advanced and diverse domains like embedded systems, edge-AI, high-performance computing, cloud infrastructure and kernel exploration. Without sound knowledge of systems programming skills, advancing your career may become extremely challenging in the current job scenario.
I'm looking to learn Linux Device Drivers — is it necessary to learn Linux Systems Programming before that?+
Yes, it is necessary. Systems programming teaches you how processes, memory, files, and concurrency are managed inside Linux. These concepts are essential prerequisites for drivers, where you deal directly with hardware and must synchronize with the kernel's process and memory models. Without this grounding, driver programming becomes a matter of copying code patterns rather than truly understanding how the OS and hardware interact. More than 90% of our corporate clients include Linux systems programming concepts when requesting onsite training, to level-up foundational skills before venturing into Kernel & Drivers.
AI can generate code — so what is the relevance of learning Linux systems programming?+
A well-documented fact is that only engineers with strong conceptual foundations can truly harness AI automation effectively. Most so-called "vibe coders" may generate code, but they struggle to critically review it or anticipate runtime issues — precisely because they lack a deep understanding of internal concepts, their interdependencies, and the integration complexities that underpin real systems. Without this depth, AI becomes a shortcut to fragile solutions; with it, AI becomes a powerful multiplier of engineering capability.
Can I fast-track this and progress in parallel with Kernel Internals and Device Drivers?+
TECH VEDA's Linux Systems Programming course is designed to reshape the way participants perceive system software concepts. It's not just about learning APIs — it's a dimensional shift: breaking long-held assumptions, unlearning misconceptions, and adopting a new mindset. This transformation requires daily unlearning and relearning, and most participants get the best results taking the journey slow and steady. That said, participants with a strong footing in Linux or prior exposure to systems programming may choose to accelerate their path, while others benefit from a more gradual immersion.
I'm aware of systems programming concepts — can I directly opt for Kernel & Device Drivers?+
This is the question we hear most often. The data speaks for itself: over 90% of participants who initially skipped Systems Programming — confident they already knew the concepts — and enrolled directly into Kernel or Device Drivers, later returned to complete this course. Even highly experienced engineers have shared that only after this course did they truly understand what they had been practising all along. "I thought I had enough background to jump straight into drivers, but midway I realized I was missing the foundations." — Adit Patel. "It felt like I'd been working in the dark all these years." — Arut Selva. This course isn't just about "learning the basics" — it's about gaining the clarity and depth that even seasoned professionals realize they've been missing.
Do we need any specific hardware/board for this program?+
No. This program is delivered on the Linux-x86 platform, so you do not require any specific hardware or boards.
Is this live, and do I get recordings of the live sessions for revision?+
Yes. This is a fully live, mentor-led program — you learn in real time with the mentor. On top of that, every live session is recorded to the LMS portal so you can revise at your own pace, with access for 6 months counted from the date your module begins. The recordings are a revision aid; they don't replace the live classes.

Clients who engaged us for Linux Systems Engineering

AMDStrykerQualcomm Mercedes-BenzSiemensXilinx

Ready when you are

Talk to us about this program

Tell us your goal and background — we'll share the full curriculum, upcoming dates and combo pricing, and answer your questions. Pick whichever way is easiest for you.

  • ✓ Response within 1 business day
  • ✓ Full curriculum & fee details
  • ✓ Guidance on the right track / combo
  • ✓ EMI / UPI payment options
Choose how to reach us Send an enquiry (form) Chat on WhatsApp Email info@techveda.org ☏ Show number