Linux Core Dump Analysis: Diagnosing Spiking Threads

When a production Linux application hangs or spikes in resource usage before crashing, finding the exact thread responsible can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Understanding how to extract and analyze thread telemetry from system core dumps is a critical skill for troubleshooting system reliability issues. This text-only course guides you through the foundational concepts of post-mortem debugging on Linux. You will learn to navigate core dumps, inspect thread states, and isolate CPU-spiking threads to resolve performance bottlenecks and process hangs. What you'll learn: Understand the fundamentals of Linux core dump generation and configuration, including modern systemd-coredump management; Inspect active threads and call stacks using GDB to trace execution paths; Identify CPU-spiking and runaway threads by correlating system telemetry with core dump data; Analyze thread synchronization issues, deadlocks, and resource contention patterns; Apply modern debugging workflows to containerized environments and microservices; Practice reading and interpreting stack traces to pinpoint the root causes of application hangs. The course begins with essential terminology and the mechanics of how Linux manages processes and core files. You will then progress through step-by-step written explanations demonstrating GDB commands, thread inspection techniques, and real-world analysis patterns. This course is designed for beginning systems engineers, software developers, and DevOps professionals who want to build a solid foundation in Linux debugging. No prior core dump analysis experience is required. Start mastering Linux post-mortem analysis and resolve complex thread issues with confidence.