Maintaining the Unmaintainable - Picking up the Baton of a Secure Kernel Patchset

Explore the challenges and intricacies of maintaining the grsecurity kernel patchset in this 39-minute conference talk from linux.conf.au. Dive into the history of the patchset, its key features, and the political landscape surrounding it. Follow the journey of a kernel development novice who became the sole maintainer of this critical security enhancement. Gain insights into the internal workings of the patchset, the difficulties faced in forward-porting to newer kernel versions, and the ongoing maintenance of the 4.9 LTS kernel. Discover the roadblocks that have deterred even experienced developers and contemplate the future of the patchset beyond the end of 4.9 LTS support in January 2020. Learn about the speaker's experience building Dapper Linux and the importance of the grsecurity patchset in enhancing kernel security.

Maintaining the Unmaintainable: Picking up the Baton of a Secure Kernel Patchset