Wrote this blog article as I needed to get a better understanding of the audio stack on Linux (esp. PipeWire, PulseAudio, ALSA, etc. ...). The article turned out to be a lenghty in-depth explanation of how audio works, how digital audio works, and what sound servers on linux actually do. Tried to write it in a way so it is accessible and understandable for beginners but also enlightening for experienced users. Hope it's helpful to HN
I'm interested in how Linux Audio works. The first half of the article covers other topics. It could be a separate article. An article focused on Linux Audio could say "For audio basics, click this link to my article on Audio Basics."
Even for beginners, that's useful because even beginners just want to get sound out of their speakers and anatomy and physics lessons are in the way. It's ok to start with ALSA. There's no need to boil the ocean.
Learning by trying to teach is probably the best way to clarify and crystallize what we think we know. Always appreciate these kind of posts, especially since they tend to shine a line on all the contextual bullshit that experts take for granted.
Right now I’m doing the same for an identification/contextual guide of local weeds and insects for seasonal scouts (I’m an agronomist). Unfortunately I find complexity tends to quickly become fractal and highly interlinked and it’s hard to set an entry point or tell when to limit scope.
I think you’ve done a great job of doing just that.
I really appreciate blogs/articles like this. It really helps me get beyond the surface on things and I always learn something. Thanks for taking the time to share.
