## kmod - Linux kernel module handling

OVERVIEW
========

kmod is a set of tools to handle common tasks with Linux kernel modules like
insert, remove, list, check properties, resolve dependencies and aliases.

These tools are designed on top of libkmod, a library that is shipped with
kmod. See libkmod/README for more details on this library and how to use it.
The aim is to be compatible with tools, configurations and indexes from
module-init-tools project.


Links
=====
- Mailing list (no subscription needed): linux-modules@vger.kernel.org
- Mailing list archives: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-modules/

- Signed packages: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/kernel/kmod/

- Git:
  - Official: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/utils/kernel/kmod/kmod.git
  - Mirror: https://github.com/kmod-project/kmod
  - Mirror: https://kernel.googlesource.com/pub/scm/utils/kernel/kmod/kmod.git

- License:
  - LGPLv2.1+ for libkmod, testsuite and helper libraries
  - GPLv2+ for tools/*

- Irc: `#kmod` on irc.oftc.net

- Issues: https://github.com/kmod-project/kmod/issues


Compilation and installation
============================

In order to compile the source code you need the following software packages:
- GCC/CLANG compiler
- GNU C library / musl / uClibc

Optional dependencies, required with the default build configuration:
- ZLIB library
- LZMA library
- ZSTD library
- OPENSSL library (signature handling in modinfo)

Typical configuration and installation

    meson setup builddir/
    meson compile -C builddir/
    sudo meson install -C builddir/

For end-user and distributions builds, it's recommended to use:

    meson setup --buildtype release builddir/

Alternatively you can try autotools build.
NOTE: The autotools build is slated for removal with kmod v35

    ./configure CFLAGS="-g -O2" --prefix=/usr \
                --sysconfdir=/etc --libdir=/usr/lib
    make && make install

Hacking
=======

When working on kmod, use the included `build-dev.ini` file, as:

    meson setup --native-file build-dev.ini builddir/

Make sure to read [our contributing guide](CONTRIBUTING.md) and the other
READMEs: [libkmod](libkmod/README) and [testsuite](testsuite/README).

Compatibility with module-init-tools
====================================

kmod replaced module-init-tools, which was EOL'ed in 2011. All the tools were
rewritten on top of libkmod and they can be used as drop in replacements.
Along the years there were a few behavior changes and new features implemented,
following feedback from Linux kernel community and distros.