The Linux kernel mailing list (LKML) is the main electronic mailing list for Linux kernel development,¹² where the majority of the announcements, discussion and debates over the kernel take place.³ Many other mailing lists exist to discuss the different subsystems and ports of the Linux kernel, but LKML is the principal communication channel among Linux kernel developers.⁴ It is a very high-volume list, usually receiving about 1,400 messages each day, most of which are kernel code patches.

Linux utilizes a workflow governed by LKML,⁵ which is the "bazaar" where kernel development takes place. In his book Linux Kernel Development, Robert Love notes:³