How Repetition Helped Me Understand the Linux Kernel

When I first started learning about the Linux kernel, I had no real understanding of what I was getting into. The only guide I had was a book I was reading — but without any clear direction or structure.

Many years later, I picked up another book: The Linux Programming Interface. This time, the material felt familiar. I felt at home with the content, and it gave me the confidence to believe I could actually understand this stuff. It’s been about eight years since I first started exploring the Linux kernel — maybe even longer.

This experience highlights a crucial learning principle:

The more I repeat something, the better I get at it.

It’s such a simple rule, yet incredibly powerful. Repetition can help you grasp even the most complex ideas — whether it's Fourier transforms, the theory of relativity, an archaeology survey paper, or learning Sanskrit.

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