A Docker + QEMU based Linux kernel development platform running on CNB Cloud IDE.

One-click boot for ARM, RISC-V, and x86_64 boards — designed for teaching, learning, and kernel development.

1. Fork this repository on CNB
2. Click Cloud IDE to open the development environment
3. Run in terminal:

make boot

This automatically downloads the kernel, prepares rootfs, and boots QEMU. You'll see a login prompt within minutes.

docker build -t linux-lab .
docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/workspace linux-lab
make boot

Requirements: QEMU, ARM cross-compiler (e.g., arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc), standard build tools.

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/zevorn/linux-lab.git
cd linux-lab
make boot BOARD=arm/vexpress-a9

Board	Architecture	QEMU Machine	Kernel Versions
arm/vexpress-a9	ARM Cortex-A9	vexpress-a9	5.15, 6.1, 6.6
riscv/virt	RISC-V 64-bit	virt	6.1, 6.6
x86_64/pc	x86_64	pc	6.1, 6.6

# One-click boot (fully autonomous)
make boot                              # Default: ARM vexpress-a9 + kernel 6.6
make boot BOARD=riscv/virt             # RISC-V board
make boot BOARD=x86_64/pc             # x86_64 board

# TUI interactive mode
make tui

# Kernel management
make kernel-download KERNEL=6.6       # Download kernel source
make kernel-menuconfig                 # Configure kernel
make kernel-build                      # Build kernel

# Rootfs
make rootfs-prepare                    # Prepare prebuilt rootfs
make rootfs-build                      # Build via Buildroot

# QEMU
make qemu-build                        # Build QEMU from source
make qemu-debug                        # Boot with GDB server (-s -S)
make debug                             # Connect GDB to QEMU

# Info
make help                              # Show all targets
make info                              # Show current configuration
make list-boards                       # List available boards

linux-lab/
├── Makefile                # Main entry point
├── Dockerfile              # CNB Cloud IDE image
├── boards/                 # Board configurations (declarative .mk files)
│   ├── arm/vexpress-a9/
│   ├── riscv/virt/
│   └── x86_64/pc/
├── scripts/                # Core engine (shell scripts)
│   ├── kernel.sh           # Kernel download/build
│   ├── rootfs.sh           # Rootfs management
│   ├── qemu.sh             # QEMU boot/build
│   └── tui/                # TUI interface
├── rootfs/
│   ├── prebuilt/           # Prebuilt rootfs images (per arch)
│   └── overlay/            # Rootfs overlay files
├── src/                    # Source code
│   ├── qemu/               # QEMU (git submodule)
│   └── buildroot/          # Buildroot (git submodule)
└── docs/                   # Documentation (zh/en)

Override defaults via CLI, environment variables, or .linux-lab.conf:

# CLI override
make boot BOARD=riscv/virt KERNEL=6.1

# Persistent config
echo "BOARD := riscv/virt" > .linux-lab.conf
echo "KERNEL := 6.1" >> .linux-lab.conf
make boot

# Custom kernel/rootfs source
make kernel-build KERNEL_SRC=/path/to/my-linux
make boot ROOTFS_IMAGE=/path/to/my-rootfs.cpio.gz

make tui  # Select "Add new board"

1. Create boards/<arch>/<board>/board.mk, kernel-<ver>.mk, rootfs.mk
2. Verify: make info BOARD=<arch>/<board>

See Board Guide (EN) | 开发板指南 (中文)

Terminal 1:

make qemu-debug                  # Boot with -s -S

Terminal 2:

make debug                       # Launch gdb-multiarch, connect to :1234

• Getting Started (EN) | 快速上手 (中文)
• Board Guide (EN) | 开发板指南 (中文)

This project is licensed under the GPL-2.0 License. See LICENSE for details.

Inspired by TinyLab's Linux Lab. Fully re-implemented for CNB Cloud IDE.