IJFCC 2025 Vol.14(1): 1-6
DOI: 10.18178/ijfcc.2025.14.1.622
VR City: A Tool for Understanding Control Flow in Linux Kernel
Shuanghui Yi1, Xiaoyan Su1, Tong Wang1, Shaobo Yu1,
Bingru Wu2, and
Hang Li2
1. Systems Engineering Institute, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
2. School of Computer Science and Technology, Software Engineering, Xidian University, Xi’an, China
Email: yshbise@foxmail.com (S.Y.); suyan_sxysxy@foxmail.com (X.S.); tongwss@foxmail.com (T.W.); qilinbo@foxmail.com (S.Y.); 21151213685@stu.xidian.edu.cn (B.W.); hangli@mail.xidian.edu.cn (H.L.)
Manuscript received July 3, 2024; revised August 16, 2024; accepted August 22, 2024,published February 25, 2025
Abstract—The current code size of the Linux kernel has exceeded 1 GB, with an extremely complex control flow. This complexity poses at least two obstacles for students to correctly understand the causal paths in the code: 1) The tendency to get lost; 2) Lack of concretization, making it difficult for learners to use constructivist approach to understand the Linux kernel. To address these obstacles, this study leverages VR (Virtual Reality) technology to concretize the Linux kernel as a city. For example, it represents Linux kernel function codes as buildings in the city and the control flow as running vehicles. This approach aids learners in comprehending the overall code structure, establishing a macro-level map of the code. By concretizing the concepts, learners can relate their existing rich knowledge of daily urban transportation to Linux kernel knowledge. This method facilitates the application of constructivist learning, reducing the difficulty of understanding the Linux kernel.
Keywords—VR city, Linux kernel, visualization
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Cite: Shuanghui Yi, Xiaoyan Su, Tong Wang, Shaobo Yu, Bingru Wu, and Hang Li, "VR City: A Tool for Understanding Control Flow in Linux Kernel," International Journal of Future Computer and Communication, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 1-6, 2025.
Copyright © 2025 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
(CC BY 4.0)
