The undeniable success of the Linux kernel project, both as a vital software to society and as a prime example of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS), is the result of a sustained, large-scale, and collaborative development effort spanning more than three decades. Nevertheless, its growing complexity, reliance on ad-hoc tooling, and dependence on a small set of key maintainers are points of concern that threaten its long-term sustainability. Toward supporting the project’s continuity, this PhD research focuses on understanding the processes and practices (workflows) that define the Linux development model by (1) formulating and validating a theoretical framework that characterizes core workflows and associated bottlenecks, and (2) creating FLOSS tools that mitigate identified bottlenecks through automation. Ethnographic case studies are the primary research method to avoid distance from the practice, which is common in academic studies on the topic. However, we employ a multi-method approach that leverages a multivocal literature review to reduce the bias in our findings, as well as concepts of grounded theory to develop our theoretical framework iteratively. Preliminary results include concept maps that describe core workflows, along with two tools, kworkflow and patch-hub, as well as insights gained from interactions with the Linux community.

@inproceedings{paperbot11850,
  title = {Mapping and Mitigating Bottlenecks in the Linux Kernel Development Model},
  author = {David de Barros Tadokoro},
  booktitle = {ICSE},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1145/3774748.3787659}
}