eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter)
eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) is a revolutionary technology that allows sandboxed programs to run in the Linux kernel without modifying kernel source code or loading kernel modules. It enables developers to safely and efficiently extend kernel functionality for networking, security, observability, and tracing purposes through custom programs that execute in a virtual machine within the kernel.
Companies want eBPF expertise NOW because it's becoming the standard for cloud-native observability and security, enabling real-time monitoring and enforcement without performance overhead. With the rise of microservices and containerized environments, eBPF provides deep visibility into distributed systems while major players like Datadog and Cilium are building entire product ecosystems around this technology.
🎓 Courses
Introduction to Cilium and eBPF
Free Linux Foundation course — eBPF networking with Cilium. The cloud-native use case.
eBPF and Cilium Course
Free hands-on labs from Cilium creators — networking, observability, security with eBPF.
Linux Kernel Programming
Understand the kernel eBPF runs in — modules, memory, scheduling. Foundation.
📖 Books
Learning eBPF
Liz Rice · 2023
THE eBPF book by Isovalent CTO. Covers tracing, networking, security — clear, practical, authoritative.
BPF Performance Tools
Brendan Gregg · 2019
By the performance engineering legend. 150+ BPF tools for CPU, memory, disk, network analysis.
Systems Performance
Brendan Gregg · 2020
Enterprise performance at scale — the systems context where eBPF excels. 2nd edition.
🛠️ Tutorials & Guides
eBPF.io
The eBPF community site — what is eBPF, use cases, projects, and getting started guide.
BCC Tools
BPF Compiler Collection — 100+ ready-to-use tools for tracing and monitoring. Learn by example.
libbpf-bootstrap
Modern eBPF development scaffolding — CO-RE, BTF, libbpf. The right way to write eBPF programs.
Brendan Gregg's eBPF Page
Comprehensive resource page — tools, examples, talks, and performance analysis patterns.
🏅 Certifications
Cilium Certified Associate (CCA)
Linux Foundation / Isovalent · $250
Official eBPF networking certification — Cilium, network policies, observability, service mesh.
Learning resources last updated: March 30, 2026