How is the Linux kernel tested ?

Question

How do the Linux kernel developers test their code locally and after they have it committed? Do they use some kind of unit testing, build automation? test plans?

Answer 1

Once after contributers submit their patch files & after making merge request linux gatekeepers are checking the patch by integrating & review it.Once if it successs they will merge the patch into relevant branch & make new version release. Linux Test Project (https://github.com/linux-test-project/ltp) is the main source which provides test scenarios(Test Cases) to run against kernel after applying patches. This may take around 2 ~ 4 hours & depends. Please note regarding the file system of the Selected kernel is going to test against. Ex:Ext4 generates different results against EXT3 & so on.

Kernel Testing procedure.

1. Get latest kernel source from the repository.(https://www.kernel.org/ or Github.com)
2. Apply patch file(Using Diff tool)
3. Build new kernel.
4. Test against test procedures in LTP(https://github.com/linux-test-project/ltp)