As a long-time Linux systems engineer I've learned the hard way why and why not to compile my own kernels. Like taking the training wheels off a bicycle, compiling your own kernel can make your system faster, but you might fall down the first time you try.

Sometimes there's just no other choice. Sometimes you might have newer (or older) hardware than your Linux distribution supports, or you might need a filesystem that your distro didn't feel like including. You might also just have the itch of curiosity, and want to see what this 'menuconfig' business is all about.

Whatever the reason: you need to compile your own kernel. This rite of passage doesn't have to be perilous or unguided. In this talk I'll walk you through how to successfully compile your first Linux kernel, why you might want to, and where to go for help. I'll also cover how to make packages out of it so you can easily distribute it to your friends, and maybe go a bit further to actually submit a kernel patch.