torvalds/Linux ? reverse-engineered prompt

I want to get this Linux kernel source tree building on my machine and make sure I can boot a working test kernel.

Please read the docs that matter, figure out any missing build requirements, and set up the smallest sensible configuration for a local build. If there are a couple of ways to do it, pick the safest one and explain what you changed. Then help me build it, and if anything fails, fix the issues and try again.

I’d also like a short summary of how to repeat the build later, plus any important commands for checking the result or building the documentation. If you need current details from the kernel docs or official site, look them up online.