Compiling your own kernel

In short: You can build the kernel from source yourself to switch features on or off, make it smaller or optimise it.

In more detail: You download the source code from kernel.org, choose options with menuconfig and compile.

In detail

tar xf linux-6.12.tar.xz && cd linux-6.12
cp /boot/config-$(uname -r) .config   # config of the running version
make olddefconfig
make menuconfig                       # adjust options
make -j$(nproc)
sudo make modules_install
sudo make install                     # copies to /boot, updates bootloader

• Requirements: gcc, make, flex, bison, libssl-dev, libelf-dev, bc.
• Duration: from a few minutes to over an hour, depending on options.
• Distribution ways: Debian: make bindeb-pkg creates .deb packages, Fedora/Arch have their own packages.
• Risk: wrong options lead to systems that do not boot, so always keep a working kernel in the boot menu.
• Alternative: ready-made kernel variants (Zen, XanMod, Liquorix), see Alternative kernels: Zen, XanMod, Liquorix and hardened.
• Sign modules with Secure Boot.

See also: Building software from source (make, CMake), Kernel modules and drivers