Why does apple need a Linux Kernel dev?

https://linkedin.com/comm/jobs/...

Last time I checked Macs still used XNU, how else do you find a kernel developer?

@C0D4 if you read the listing, it becomes clear that their looking for Linux development not XNU (which honestly isn't that similar to Linux other than conceptually).

@chabad360 new Macs running Linux maybe instead of XNU - description seems to point at the Mac family. 🤔

@C0D4 maybe they're trying to create a MacOS Subsystem for Linux.

a) They seeks for people with Hardware knowledge.
b) They have some special hardware that runs Linux so they need developers (maybe for their own servers?) Also, big enterprises sometimes customise Linux for their own needs.

@sbiewald not just hardware, it was quite clear that they want some one who is very familiar with the kernel, not just kernel development.

fine-tuned servers? Prolly some feature built into the kernelspace as a module rather than the userspace, for better performance?

Just a guess

@netikras not likely, it seems like this person would be working with the hardware development team.

Maybe they write Linux test drivers for their hardware before they write the actual MacOS drivers.

@chabad360 yeah, you're right. Just now have I opened the ad :)

USB, embedded systems etc... could Apple be ditching their proprietary OS for some devices and switching to Linux instead? I mean they have a name already. They can sell anything that looks Apple.

Build the core of some iwatch using Linux, add the standard ios UI et voila -- it's Apple.

I think for testing their socs in various platforms. Wider area of software means better testing so it’s easier to port linux for their soc and test on linux that have wide area of software then only use substitute of software locked to one vendor.
If they fail with soc it can be disaster to company and I think they know it.

@vane I'd agree if apple was a small company, but they are one of (if not the) largest tech companies, that's not something they're worried about.

@chabad360 tell that to ibm, apple also almost bankrupted. Yeah they got cash but they are on very high trust bandwagon and making own soc is risky step.

@netikras my theory is that it's for testing. I think it's easier to do Linux driver development than it is for MacOS. So in order to determine whether certain changes make a difference, you need someone who's familiar with the kernel as a whole.

@vane if there is a problem with the SoC, Linux won't help them.

@chabad360 I don’t know I didn’t make soc but I made hardware project at least twice and amount of things you can fuck up is bigger than in software. Another problem is you can’t get away with it with automatic update if you make mistake you need to call all the devices.
Imagine apple need to call back all generation of iphones, macbooks, ipads in 2022 cause they start crashing cause of undefined bug.
They cash pile will disappear in seconds.

@vane from what I know (not much) about chip design, I can tell you that it's nothing like Arduino style development. For starters, it's possible to update a chip with microcode (this method has obvious limitations howerver). Aside from that, chip designs undergo extensive validation to ensure there aren't problems.

Also, I believe they'd catch most of the issues, because any SoC they're developing is going to be used in their devices.

@chabad360 what about security issues ?
you can test those on various platforms and each platform have own toolset