A Linux Kernel Module written in Scratch (a visual programming language for kids)

Seriously. Someone did this. Because... why not?

Ready to have your mind blown… just a little? Check this out:

“What am I looking at,” you ask?

On the left is Scratch — a visual programming tool, primarily geared towards kids, to help with learning concepts of coding. Instead of typing out your code, you drag and drop blocks of programming logic into place. Snapping them together like a jig saw puzzle.

In this case, instead of a programming tutorial or a simple children’s game, the Scratch project is an actual Linux Kernel Module.

On the right is some output from the Linux Kernel Log.

Those messages in the Linux Kernel Log were put there by that Linux Kernel Module (using the “printk” function) built in Scratch.

That’s right. It is now possible to build a functioning Linux Kernel Module entirely in a visual programming tool intended for kids. Because this is 2022, and we deserve to have some fun.

This bit of (awesome) madness is made possible thanks to the “scratchnative” project, which takes a Scratch project and converts it to C++. Thus opening up some truly ridiculous possibilities (such as creating this kernel module or even writing a whole gosh darned operating system).

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