Code of Conduct

The Linux kernel community operates a Code of Conduct based on the Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct with a Linux Kernel Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct Interpretation.

Code of Conduct Committee

The Linux kernel Code of Conduct Committee is currently made up of the following people:

Committee members can be reached all at once by writing to <conduct@kernel.org>.

Committee Reports

We would like to thank the Linux kernel community members who have supported the adoption of the Code of Conduct and who continue to uphold the professional standards of our community. If you have any questions about these reports, please write to <conduct@kernel.org>.

September 2023

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/r/3351be6b-854e-479d-832c-83cb8829c010@linuxfoundation.org

In the period of April 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023, the Code of Conduct Committee received the following reports:

  • Unacceptable behavior or comments in email: 4

The result of the investigation:

  • Education and coaching clarifying the Code of Conduct conduct related to normal review and patch acceptance process: 3
  • Clarification on the Code of Conduct conduct related to maintainer rights and responsibility to reject code: 1

The reports were about the discussion during the patch review and decisions made in rejecting code and these actions are not viewed as violations of the Code of Conduct.

Please see the excerpt from the Responsibilities section in the Linux Kernel Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct Interpretation document:

setting expertise expectations, making decisions and rejecting unsuitable
contributions are not viewed as a violation of the Code of Conduct.

March 2023

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/r/557ef895-ad2d-eff9-7cb8-70dbcf41adea@linuxfoundation.org

In the period of October 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023, the Code of Conduct Committee received the following reports:

  • Unacceptable behavior or comments in email: 6

The result of the investigation:

  • Education and coaching clarifying the Code of Conduct conduct related to normal review and patch acceptance process: 1
  • Clarification on the Code of Conduct conduct related to maintainer rights and responsibility to reject code: 5

The reports were about the decisions made in rejecting code and these actions are not viewed as violations of the Code of Conduct.

Please see the excerpt from the Responsibilities section in the Linux Kernel Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct Interpretation document:

setting expertise expectations, making decisions and rejecting unsuitable
contributions are not viewed as a violation of the Code of Conduct.

September 2022

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/r/57a492fb-928b-9e0a-5f0e-dc95ef599309@linuxfoundation.org

In the period of April 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022, the Code of Conduct Committee received the following reports:

  • Unacceptable behavior or comments in email: 1

The result of the investigation:

  • Resolved with a public apology from the violator with a commitment from them to abide by the Code of Conduct in the future.

March 2022

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/r/4401af50-083d-0239-6b7f-3454c8d69fec@linuxfoundation.org

In the period of October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022, the Code of Conduct Committee received the following reports:

  • Unacceptable behavior or comments in email: 2

The result of the investigation:

  • Education and coaching clarifying the Code of Conduct conduct related to normal review process: 2

September 2021

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/r/e81f0726-5f8f-f10f-d926-a9126941d38e@linuxfoundation.org

In the period of May 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021, the Code of Conduct Committee received the following reports:

  • Unacceptable behavior or comments in email: 1

The result of the investigation:

  • Education and coaching clarifying the Code of Conduct conduct related to normal review process: 1

April 2021

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/r/448b06e4-41fc-26df-a862-c3ba2f70b6b3@linuxfoundation.org

In the period of November 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021 the Code of Conduct Committee received the following reports:

  • Unacceptable behavior or comments in email (3rd party): 4

The result of the investigation:

  • Education and coaching: 1
  • Public response to call attention to the behavior and request correction with consequence of ban if behavior persists: 1
  • Public response to attention to the behavior and request correction: 1
  • Clarification on the Code of Conduct conduct related to maintainer rights and responsibility to reject code: 1

October 2020

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20201105083002.GA3429143@kroah.com/

In the period of January 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020 the Committee received the following reports:

  • Unacceptable behavior or comments in email: 1
  • Unacceptable comments in github repo by non-community members: 1
  • Unacceptable comments toward a company: 1

The result of the investigation:

  • Education and coaching: 1
  • Locking of github repo for any comments: 1
  • Clarification that the Code of Conduct covers conduct related to individual developers only: 1

December 2019

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20200103105614.GC1047442@kroah.com/

In the period of December 1, 2019 through December 30, 2019 the Committee received the following report:

  • Insulting behavior in email: 1

The result of the investigation:

  • Education and coaching: 1

August to November 2019

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20191218090054.GA5120@kroah.com/

In the period of August 1, 2019 through November 31, 2019, the Committee received no reports.

September 2018 to July 2019

Archival copy: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20190810120700.GA7360@kroah.com/

In the period of September 15, 2018 through July 31, 2019, the Committee received the following reports:

  • Inappropriate language in the kernel source: 1
  • Insulting behavior in email: 3

The result of the investigations:

  • Education and coaching: 4

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