OverviewAbout this program
The Linux Systems Programming Course is a career-defining program that builds the core engineering mindset needed in today's AI-driven world. Instead of stopping at application coding, this course takes you deeper — into how operating systems, processes, and performance-critical software really work. By mastering system-level thinking, you gain the confidence to design robust, scalable, and future-ready solutions for domains like cloud infrastructure, embedded platforms, and intelligent AI systems. This program transforms you into a system-level problem solver and performance-focused developer.
Our training methodology goes beyond conventional teaching — it emphasizes revisiting core programming fundamentals, challenging long-held assumptions, and rebuilding concepts from the ground up. Participants are guided to relook at what they already know, unlearn the misconceptions that limit their growth, and relearn the right principles with deeper clarity in this age of AI.
By blending theory with immediate application, participants move beyond passive understanding into active problem-solving. Instead of merely memorizing APIs or commands, they learn to connect every concept to its real-world behavior on a Linux system. This means they don't just know what works, but develop the insight to understand why it works that way and the skill to identify and resolve issues when things inevitably break. Through this method, participants cultivate the ability to think systematically, design robust solutions, and troubleshoot with confidence.
Moreover, with a strong grounding in system-level thinking, they are empowered to leverage AI-driven tools and workflows — not as shortcuts, but as productivity multipliers — to maximize their engineering throughput and stay ahead in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape.
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 EdgeAI — to go all the way to building and shipping on edge, at a combo saving of ₹7,000.
OutcomesKey takeaways
- ✓ Unlearn core fundamental programming and OS concepts.
- ✓ Build multi-process, multi-threaded and event-driven applications.
- ✓ Gain expertise in process synchronization for real-world workloads.
- ✓ Master POSIX APIs and Linux calls.
- ✓ Develop strong debugging and profiling skills with industry-grade tools.
- ✓ Gain confidence to step into Linux Kernel & Device Driver development.
- ✓ Know how system programming concepts provide the foundation for AI/ML workloads.
Curriculum7 modules · concepts to real-world behaviour
01Foundations of Systems Programming⌄
Systems Software – A Deeper Exploration
- Operating systems defined
- Understanding types of Kernel
- Software models & integration
- Introduction to Linux Kernel project
Toolchains – From Source to Binary
- What is a toolchain?
- Types of toolchains
- Compiler and build process overview
- Binary file formats (focus on ELF)
- Types and structure of object files
- Firmware vs application binaries
Libraries & Linkages
- Static vs shared libraries
- Linking at compile time vs runtime
- Shared object versioning
- Use cases & best practices
02Process Memory Architecture & Management⌄
Virtual address spaces
- Address space defined
- Need for virtual addresses
- Use cases
- User and kernel address spaces
- Application Binary Interface (ABI) standard
- Linux Standard Process address space layout
Stack Management
- Stack segment basics
- Procedure calls and stack frames
- How the system tracks frames
- Stack backtraces and debugging
- Stack overflow explained
- Security mechanisms in stack handling
Heap Management
- Heap segment definition
- Low-level vs high-level allocation
- Heap management strategies and organization
- Internals of allocation libraries
- Troubleshooting heap fragmentation and performance
Debugging Heap Memory
- Memory leaks and detection
- Buffer overflows and out-of-bounds access
- Runtime memory checking tools
- Analyzing memory during crashes
Advanced Memory Concepts – Lazy Allocation & Pinning
- Lazy allocation (pages created on access)
- Determining residency of memory pages
- Pinning memory to avoid swapping
- Use cases in real-time, database, and security-sensitive applications
03I/O Architecture & File APIs⌄
Introduction to I/O Architecture
- Role of the Virtual File System (VFS)
- VFS as an abstraction layer across filesystems & devices
- Unified file descriptor model
- Common file operations
Types of File I/O in Linux
- Synchronous I/O (blocking)
- Direct I/O (bypassing cache)
- Vectored I/O (gather/scatter)
- Memory-mapped I/O
- Read-ahead optimizations
Advanced I/O Models
- Asynchronous I/O techniques
- Modern high-performance I/O mechanisms
- Comparing traditional and modern approaches
- Use cases in databases, servers, and real-time applications
04Process Creation, Management & Threads⌄
Process Creation Models
- Process lifecycle overview
- Process creation models (multi-process, multi-threaded)
- Mechanisms for creating new processes
- Parent-child relationships and termination
Signals & Inter-Process Control
- What are signals and how are they delivered
- Common signals and default actions
- Writing safe handlers
- Using signals for synchronization and control
Process Cloning & Lightweight Processes
- Concept of lightweight processes
- Clone-based process creation
- Differences from traditional fork-exec model
- Use cases in namespaces and isolation
POSIX Threads (pthreads)
- Creating and managing threads
- Thread attributes and scheduling
- Synchronization primitives (mutexes, condition variables, read-write locks)
- Thread-local storage
- Cancellation and cleanup of threads
05Inter-Process Communication (IPC)⌄
Classic IPC Mechanisms
- Pipes (anonymous and named)
- Shared memory regions
- Message queues
- Semaphores for synchronization
File Descriptor Sharing & Multiplexing
- Concept of monitoring multiple file descriptors
- I/O multiplexing mechanisms
- Event-driven application models
Networking with Sockets
- Sockets as endpoints for communication
- Types of sockets (stream, datagram, raw)
- Client-server architecture
- Local (UNIX domain) vs network (TCP/IP) sockets
06Timers & Scheduling⌄
Time Measurement & Delays
- System time vs process time
- Relative vs absolute timers
- High-resolution timing
Timers in Applications
- Periodic timers
- One-shot timers
- Use cases in scheduling recurring tasks
Scheduling Policies
- Linux process scheduling overview
- Priorities and policies (real-time vs normal)
- CPU affinity and load distribution
07Kernel Build & Modules⌄
- Essentials of Linux kernel architecture
- Understanding need for kernel programming
- Modifying kernel sources
- Kernel configuration and compilation
- Introduction to kernel modules
- Building kernel module binary
- Tools for module management
- Tracking module dependency
- Module parameters
- Kernel symbol table
- Exporting Module symbols
SetupRecommended hardware
This program is delivered on the Linux-x86 platform, so you do not require any specific hardware or boards.
Before you startPrerequisites
AudienceWho should enroll
- ✓ Application Software Engineers looking to build high-performance, robust Linux applications by mastering system interactions, process management, and efficient resource use.
- ✓ Embedded Systems Engineers looking to transition from bare-metal development to Linux-based embedded software development.
- ✓ Network/Cloud Engineers looking to secure and optimize cloud environments by understanding network programming and system security features, crucial for managing Linux-based infrastructure.
- ✓ AI/ML Engineers looking to optimize algorithms and data pipelines for maximum efficiency by leveraging system resources like multi-threading and memory management on Linux.
- ✓ System DevOps Engineers looking to automate infrastructure and troubleshoot complex issues by gaining a deeper understanding of the OS core, for more reliable and scalable deployments.
- ✓ Career Aspirants seeking a jumpstart into Embedded Linux software engineering careers.
Your mentorLearn directly from the founder
Raghu Bharadwaj
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.
ReviewsParticipant experiences
"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."
"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."
"An exceptional teacher who makes learning enjoyable and effective — explaining complex concepts clearly with real-life examples. The dedication and enthusiasm truly inspire."
