What happens inside the Linux kernel when you run a command?
I’m building Kernelfall to help myself and others learn how the Linux kernel works by doing real, hands-on experiments through a game—and the alpha is now live!
“Talk is cheap. Show me the code.”
— Linus Torvalds
💻 Explore the source on GitHub
Start as a process. Work your way toward the kernel.
You begin as a tiny process inside a crashed machine. The learning journey starts with the shell and operating-system fundamentals, then heads toward C, system calls, and kernel development.
The idea is to make these concepts something you can experiment with, one challenge at a time.
There’s a real Linux machine in your browser
Kernelfall runs Linux inside your browser using the v86 emulator. You can run commands and compile C inside that machine.
Its X-ray mode lets you follow what happens inside the kernel as you interact with it, connecting the commands you type to the machinery underneath.
Open it in a desktop browser to get started—there’s nothing to install.
It’s an alpha, and I’m looking for learners
The engine is in place, but the curriculum is still being built and checked. Expect unfinished areas, rough edges, and bugs.
I’d especially love feedback from:
- Beginners: Where do you get stuck? What needs a clearer explanation?
- People learning C or Linux: Do the challenges help the concepts click?
- Experienced systems developers: Can you spot technical inaccuracies or suggest better exercises?
Try the game and tell me where it loses you. A confusing instruction or an unexpected result is useful feedback at this stage.
You can open an issue on GitHub or leave a comment here.
Thank you, Claude
A special thank-you to Claude for helping me bring Kernelfall to life, and to ChatGPT for helping me write this launch post.
There’s still plenty to build, and I’m excited to share this early version with other people curious about how Linux works.
What kernel concept have you always wanted to understand through a hands-on experiment?
Try the first level in a desktop browser, run echo hello, then open X-ray. What did the trace help you understand, and what still felt unclear?
