Linus Torvalds Jokes About His Linux Successor
▼ Summary
– Linus Torvalds announced Linux kernel 7.0, clarifying the new major version number is arbitrary and does not signify major new features or breaking changes.
– He humorously admitted he has no plan for when future version numbers become large, expecting a more competent successor to handle that.
– Torvalds described the recent development cycle as smooth, defined by not encountering boot failures on his machines during testing.
– The Linux 7.0 release candidate includes significant updates like solidified Rust support, performance improvements for various architectures, and the removal of outdated drivers.
– He concluded by encouraging, but not urgently demanding, that developers test the new release candidate.
Linus Torvalds recently reflected on the long-term future of the Linux kernel with his characteristic humor. In a post announcing the first release candidate for version 7.0, he downplayed the significance of the new major version number, calling it a simple marker of steady progress rather than a sign of groundbreaking changes. The numbering is essentially arbitrary, he explained, a system maintained mostly for his own convenience to avoid confusion with larger figures.
He reiterated the established pattern where each kernel series concludes at version x.19 before incrementing to the next major number, a cycle lasting roughly three and a half years. This led him to a lighthearted consideration of what happens when those numbers grow uncomfortably large. Torvalds admitted he has no concrete plan for that distant scenario, quipping that by then, a more competent successor unafraid of double-digit numbers would likely be in charge. Given the current timeline, reaching version 19.x would take over four decades, a point at which the 56-year-old creator might well be enjoying a retirement filled with hobbies like tinkering with guitar equipment.
After these existential musings, Torvalds returned to the practical matters of the latest development cycle. He described the recent merge window as “fairly smooth,” a term he personally defines as periods where he doesn’t have to troubleshoot boot failures on his personal machines. He then issued his traditional, half-serious call to action for the community to test the new release candidate, quickly following it with a more relaxed suggestion to take their time.
This new kernel iteration continues the project’s forward momentum. Notable additions include a patch that solidifies support for the Rust programming language within the kernel, a significant step for memory safety and future development. Testers will also encounter code improvements for faster cache clearing, support for non-disruptive live updates, and enhancements to keep pace with the latest features from AMD and Intel processors. Performance optimizations for the RISC-V and LoongArch architectures are also part of the package. As with any major release, some legacy code gets cleaned out; this time, it involves removing a modem driver for certain 1990s-era IBM ThinkPad models, a nostalgic nod to the hardware of a bygone computing era.
(Source: The Register)
