Linux Device Drivers Part - 1 : What is Linux Device Driver ?

From today, we  will be discussing about Linux Device Drivers which are very useful for Device Driver programmers.

mrtechpathi_tutorials_linux_device_drivers_part_1

Linux has more future and those who learn more on Linux Kernel and Device drivers will benefit a lot. Linux is one of the best open source operating system which is available to everyone. It is majorly used operating system in smart phones and Embedded Systems these days. Yes all, Android phones have Open source Linux Operating system in it which is customized according to Smartphone vendor needs.

So, lets start with Linux Device Driver Programming..

Scope of this Tutorial
To gain in depth knowledge on Linux Device Driver.
  • From now on, for your convenience, we will be discussing this topic part by part.
In this part we will know about
What is a Linux Device Driver ?

So What is a Linux Device Driver ?
Linux Device drivers are distinct “black boxes” that make a particular piece of hardware respond to a well-defined internal programming interface.They completely  hide the details of how the device works.

Points to note while writing a device driver
  • While writing a driver to a specific device, remember that each driver is different; as a driver writer, you need to understand your specific device well. 
  • You need to gather all information like datasheets, design documents and schematics of your device from device vendor. 
  • Please note that its very difficult to teach about a specific device in this tutorial. Instead, we will teach you how to build the background required to make your device work. 
Role of Device driver

As stated earlier, User activities are performed by means of a set of standardized calls that are independent of the specific driver; mapping those calls to device-specific operations that act on real hardware is then the role of the device driver.

That's  it for today, for your convenience, we will be discussing Linux Device drivers part by part.

For more pictorial description, watch below video and shed your comments and queries.

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