# The Linux Programming Interface by Michael Kerrisk

15 Hacker News commenters recommended The Linux Programming Interface by Michael Kerrisk and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a thorough, meticulous guide to how Linux and its system interfaces work, often preferred over course textbooks.

## Why people recommend it

- Classic, widely regarded reference (3 comments): "Another book that's worth its weight is "The Linux Programming Interface"" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48273902)) "One of the greatest texts ever written." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47395440)) "the classic Linux tome from Kerrisk" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48276827))
- Comprehensive look at Linux internals (2 comments): "it teaches a surprising amount of things by telling you what an OS will do for you" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47412059)) "It's honestly the best resource for a comprehensive look at the innards of Linux." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47393917))
- Better than typical course textbooks (2 comments): "This is the curriculum I wish my university’s CS program had back in the day." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47398567)) "this book is fantastic, and far better than typical course textbooks" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47395322))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Crafting Interpreters by Robert Nystrom](https://hackerapproved.com/p/crafting-interpreters.md): 60 recommend
- [Clean Code by Robert C. Martin](https://hackerapproved.com/p/clean-code.md): 31 recommend
- [The Pragmatic Programmer by Hunt and Thomas](https://hackerapproved.com/p/pragmatic-programmer.md): 28 recommend
- [How to Design Programs by Felleisen, Findler, Flatt and Krishnamurthi](https://hackerapproved.com/p/how-to-design-programs.md): 18 recommend
- [Mastering Emacs by Mickey Petersen](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mastering-emacs.md): 17 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1593272200?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9781593272203) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Linux Programming Interface by Michael Kerrisk", https://hackerapproved.com/p/linux-programming-interface/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).