# Guidance for AI tools and developers using AI assistance when contributing to the Linux kernel

**URL:** <https://forum.devtalk.com/t/guidance-for-ai-tools-and-developers-using-ai-assistance-when-contributing-to-the-linux-kernel/240964>\
**Category:** Linux In The News\
**Tags:** via-news-bot, coding, documentation, linux, in-the-news\
**Created:** [11 April 2026 14:00 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/guidance-for-ai-tools-and-developers-using-ai-assistance-when-contributing-to-the-linux-kernel/240964 "2026-04-11T14:00:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CommunityNews](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/communitynews/32/1113_2.png) [@CommunityNews](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/CommunityNews)\
**Post date:** [11 April 2026 14:00 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/guidance-for-ai-tools-and-developers-using-ai-assistance-when-contributing-to-the-linux-kernel/240964/1 "2026-04-11T14:00:32Z")

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> .. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
> 
> .. \_coding\_assistants:
> 
> AI Coding Assistants  
> ++++++++++++++++++++
> 
> This document provides guidance for AI tools and developers using AI  
> assistance when contributing to the Linux kernel.
> 
> AI tools helping with Linux kernel development should follow the standard  
> kernel development process:
> 
> - Documentation/process/development-process.rst
> - Documentation/process/coding-style.rst
> - Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
> 
> # Licensing and Legal Requirements
> 
> All contributions must comply with the kernel’s licensing requirements:
> 
> - All code must be compatible with GPL-2.0-only
> - Use appropriate SPDX license identifiers
> - See Documentation/process/license-rules.rst for details
> 
> # Signed-off-by and Developer Certificate of Origin
> 
> AI agents MUST NOT add Signed-off-by tags. Only humans can legally  
> certify the Developer Certificate of Origin (DCO). The human submitter  
> is responsible for:
> 
> - Reviewing all AI-generated code
> - Ensuring compliance with licensing requirements
> - Adding their own Signed-off-by tag to certify the DCO
> - Taking full responsibility for the contribution
> 
> # Attribution
> 
> When AI tools contribute to kernel development, proper attribution  
> helps track the evolving role of AI in the development process.  
> Contributions should include an Assisted-by tag in the following format::
> 
> Assisted-by: AGENT\_NAME:MODEL\_VERSION [TOOL1] [TOOL2]
> 
> Where:
> 
> - `AGENT_NAME` is the name of the AI tool or framework
> - `MODEL_VERSION` is the specific model version used
> - `[TOOL1] [TOOL2]` are optional specialized analysis tools used  
> (e.g., coccinelle, sparse, smatch, clang-tidy)
> 
> Basic development tools (git, gcc, make, editors) should not be listed.
> 
> Example::
> 
> Assisted-by: Claude:claude-3-opus coccinelle sparse

Read in full here: [linux/Documentation/process/coding-assistants.rst at master · torvalds/linux · GitHub](https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/Documentation/process/coding-assistants.rst)