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Postgraduate DiplomaElectronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom Applications open

Diploma in Drivers, Device Tree and Kernel Tuning

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in Drivers, Device Tree and Kernel Tuning. 8 modules covering Linux kernel architecture, device tree hardware description, platform and character drivers, peripheral subsystems, kernel debugging, performance tuning and boot and power management, with reference to the Devicetree Specification v0.4, POSIX and ISO/IEC 9899, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration800 hours · 6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the internal architecture and subsystems of the Linux kernel.

02

Describe hardware using device tree and validated bindings.

03

Develop robust platform and character drivers.

04

Integrate peripherals through the I2C, SPI, IIO and GPIO subsystems.

05

Debug kernel failures with tracing and analysis tools.

06

Tune the kernel for low latency and energy efficiency.

07

Prepare patches in line with the upstream development process.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Linux kernel engineers.
  • Device driver developers.
  • Embedded systems engineers.
  • Systems performance engineers.
  • SoC platform integrators.
  • Low-level software engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to join the semiconductor industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Devicetree Specification v0.4 (hardware description format)
  • IEEE 1003.1 (POSIX) (portable operating system interface)
  • ISO/IEC 9899:2018 (C programming language)
  • IEC 61508-3:2010 (functional safety software requirements)
  • ISO 26262-6:2018 (automotive functional safety at software level)
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 (Cyber Resilience Act) (cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements)
  • Linux kernel (Kbuild)
  • ftrace and trace-cmd
  • perf
  • dtc (Device Tree Compiler)
  • KernelShark
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1User space and kernel space
  2. 1.2Kbuild, Kconfig and kernel configuration
  3. 1.3Loadable modules and their lifecycle
  4. 1.4Memory management: slab, vmalloc and DMA
  5. 1.5EEVDF scheduler and scheduling classes
  6. 1.6Interrupts, softirqs and workqueues
  7. 1.7Synchronisation: spinlocks, mutexes and RCU
  8. 1.8Device model: bus, device and driver
  9. 1.9Source tree and the development process
  10. 1.10Lab: cross-compiling and booting a kernel
  1. 2.1DTS syntax, nodes and properties
  2. 2.2compatible, reg, interrupts and clocks properties
  3. 2.3YAML bindings and validation with dtschema
  4. 2.4Including .dtsi files and the SoC-board hierarchy
  5. 2.5Pinctrl and pin multiplexing
  6. 2.6Overlays and boot-time configuration
  7. 2.7Phandles, references and GPIO
  8. 2.8Debugging with /proc/device-tree and dtc
  9. 2.9Best practice for upstream submission
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: board with I2C and SPI sensors
  1. 3.1Platform drivers and the probe function
  2. 3.2Character devices, file_operations and ioctl
  3. 3.3Managed resources with devm_*
  4. 3.4Register access with regmap
  5. 3.5Interrupt handling and threaded IRQs
  6. 3.6Sysfs, attributes and debugfs
  7. 3.7Power management with runtime PM
  8. 3.8Concurrency and race conditions
  9. 3.9Unit testing with KUnit
  10. 3.10Lab: platform driver for a GPIO peripheral
  1. 4.1I2C and SPI client drivers
  2. 4.2IIO subsystem for sensors
  3. 4.3GPIO and pinctrl framework
  4. 4.4Input, LED and PWM subsystems
  5. 4.5Common Clock Framework
  6. 4.6Regulator framework and power supply
  7. 4.7DMA engine and transfers
  8. 4.8Basic network drivers with netdev
  9. 4.9V4L2 subsystem for cameras
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: IIO driver for an accelerometer
  1. 5.1printk, dynamic debug and log levels
  2. 5.2Analysis of oops and kernel panics
  3. 5.3KGDB and JTAG with OpenOCD
  4. 5.4ftrace: function and function_graph
  5. 5.5Kprobes and tracepoints
  6. 5.6eBPF and bpftrace for observability
  7. 5.7KASAN, lockdep and error detectors
  8. 5.8Kdump and vmcore analysis
  9. 5.9Bisecting regressions with git bisect
  10. 5.10Workshop: diagnosing a driver failure
  1. 6.1Latency measurement with cyclictest
  2. 6.2PREEMPT_RT and preemption models
  3. 6.3CPU affinity, isolcpus and nohz_full
  4. 6.4Frequency governors and cpuidle
  5. 6.5Memory tuning: hugepages and swappiness
  6. 6.6IRQ priorities and threaded handlers
  7. 6.7Perf: hardware counters and flame graphs
  8. 6.8Network stack and I/O tuning
  9. 6.9sysctl and boot command-line parameters
  10. 6.10Lab: latency reduction on an ARM board
  1. 7.1Boot time reduction
  2. 7.2Initramfs and deferred module loading
  3. 7.3Suspend, resume and low-power states
  4. 7.4Thermal framework and throttling
  5. 7.5Kernel size reduction
  6. 7.6Patch maintenance and rebasing
  7. 7.7Submitting patches to the upstream community
  8. 7.8GPL licence and distribution obligations
  9. 7.9Automated regression testing
  10. 7.10Case study: booting in under two seconds
  1. 8.1Specification of the target hardware
  2. 8.2Complete device tree description
  3. 8.3Driver development and testing
  4. 8.4Integration into the system image
  5. 8.5Latency and performance measurement
  6. 8.6Kernel tuning and validation
  7. 8.7Documentation and preparation for upstream
  8. 8.8Before-and-after comparison report
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original specification and applied exercises. The working software is the Linux kernel (Kbuild), ftrace and trace-cmd, perf, dtc (Device Tree Compiler) and KernelShark, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for developing drivers on ARM boards, measuring latency with cyclictest and tracing performance with ftrace and perf. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.

Standards covered: Devicetree Specification v0.4, IEEE 1003.1 (POSIX), ISO/IEC 9899:2018, IEC 61508-3:2010, ISO 26262-6:2018, Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 (Cyber Resilience Act).

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the Devicetree Specification v0.4, IEEE 1003.1 (POSIX) and ISO/IEC 9899:2018 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Linux kernel (Kbuild), ftrace and trace-cmd, perf, dtc (Device Tree Compiler) and KernelShark, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a drivers and tuning project on target hardware, from the device tree description and driver development to latency measurement, kernel tuning and a before-and-after report, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Describe the hardware
Specify the target hardware and write its complete device tree description.
Develop the driver
Develop and test the driver using the appropriate kernel subsystem.
Measure performance
Integrate the driver into the system image and measure latency and performance.
Tune and validate
Apply kernel tuning, validate the results and prepare the patches for upstream.
Final project
A drivers and tuning project on target hardware, from the device tree description and driver development to latency measurement, kernel tuning and a before-and-after report, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Linux kernel engineerDevice driver developerEmbedded systems engineerSystems performance engineerSoC platform integratorLow-level software engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Linux kernel (Kbuild), ftrace and trace-cmd, perf, dtc (Device Tree Compiler) and KernelShark, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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