Name: Guiding Newcomers: A Mentor’s Journey Through Linux Kernel Development - Daniel Baluta, NXP Semiconductors
Start: 2025-08-25T16:30:00+0200
End: 2025-08-25T17:10:00+0200

25-27, August 2025
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Note: The schedule is subject to change.

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Monday August 25, 2025 16:30 - 17:10 CEST

G109

Helping newcomers step into the Linux kernel community is not an easy task, but

with the right mentorship it becomes a transformative journey for both the mentor and the

the mentee.

This talk shares lessons from over a decade of hands-on mentoring experience, helping students

grow from their first patch to becoming meaningful contributors.

This presentation focuses on real world examples from subsystems like IIO, ALSA and device tree

bindings and explains the practical steps to get beginners started. Each steps is important:

from selecting the appropriate tasks and hardware platfroms, to explaining kernel workflows

and mailing list culture.

Attendees will gain practical guidance on building effective mentorship practices, learning

how to support newcomers as they evolve from learners to contributors. Also, this presentation

is valuable for newcomers looking to take their first step into kernel development, offering

a clear view of the journey ahead and how to access mentoring programs like Outreachy Program for Women

or Google Summer of Code.

Speakers

Daniel Baluta

Software Engineer, NXP Semiconductors

Daniel works at NXP in Romania hacking on Linux kernel audio drivers for i.MX boards. He is a teaching assistant for Operating System Internals class at University POLITEHNICA in Bucharest and very passionate about helping newcomers to the Linux kernel world while being a mentor for... Read More →

Monday August 25, 2025 16:30 - 17:10 CEST
G109

Open Source 101

Audience Experience Level Any

Open Source Summit Europe 2025

Daniel Baluta

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