Test this new Linux kernel – but don’t forget Christmas or that you have a family, says Linus Torvalds
(2021/12/20)
- Reference: 1639960153
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/12/20/linux_5_16_rc6/
- Source link:
Linus Torvalds has confirmed that version 5.16 of the Linux kernel will take a little longer to develop than usual, thanks to Christmas.
“Things are calming down, and rc6 is fairly small,” he wrote in his weekly [1]State of the Kernel post . “That's normal for this time in the release schedule, but it's also normal for this time of year.”
The emperor penguin opined that “the next two weeks will be very quiet, and smaller still.”
[2]
So he’s confirmed the thought bubble he [3]floated last week about allowing version 5.16 of the kernel to reach an eighth release candidate.
[4]
[5]
The reason for the extra release is “not because this release looks particularly problematic, but simply due to the seasonal holidays.”
“There's no point in releasing a final 5.16 and opening the merge window when people are still on holiday or just coming back. So we'll have at least one extra week of rc this release, even if no nasty issues appear.”
[6]
Torvalds rated the chances of further releases as slim, based on his assessment of work on the current cut of the kernel.
[7]Don't expect a new cut of Linux to ease your NYE hangovers
[8]Linus Torvalds releases Linux 5.16 rc1 with new performance-enhancing memory tech
[9]Felt Qt (might delete later)*: Two non-Gtk Linux desktops have put out new versions
The maintainer-in-chief’s mpst signed off with his customary suggestion that penguinistas take this week’s release for a spin.
“I know most of us are preparing for Christmas, but give it a whirl, ok? How important are those presents (and that family) anyway?”
If you follow Torvalds’ advice, you’ll find lots of drivers to ponder, mainly pertaining to networking, USB, and GPUs. Torvalds also rated bpf seltest as quite prominent.
The decision to issue an eighth release candidate means Linux 5.16 should emerge on January 9th. The first significant date of the Linux year is Linux.conf.au, which kicks off on January 14th, 2022. Developers may therefore find the first few days of the merge window are busy, before tuning in to the FOSS action down under. ®
Get our [10]Tech Resources
[1] http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/2112.2/03276.html
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YcAOAtXb3aFz3wofhkB1IQAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/14/dont_expect_a_new_cut/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YcAOAtXb3aFz3wofhkB1IQAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YcAOAtXb3aFz3wofhkB1IQAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YcAOAtXb3aFz3wofhkB1IQAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/14/dont_expect_a_new_cut/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/15/linux_5_16_rc1/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/09/new_qt_linux_desktops/
[10] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
“Things are calming down, and rc6 is fairly small,” he wrote in his weekly [1]State of the Kernel post . “That's normal for this time in the release schedule, but it's also normal for this time of year.”
The emperor penguin opined that “the next two weeks will be very quiet, and smaller still.”
[2]
So he’s confirmed the thought bubble he [3]floated last week about allowing version 5.16 of the kernel to reach an eighth release candidate.
[4]
[5]
The reason for the extra release is “not because this release looks particularly problematic, but simply due to the seasonal holidays.”
“There's no point in releasing a final 5.16 and opening the merge window when people are still on holiday or just coming back. So we'll have at least one extra week of rc this release, even if no nasty issues appear.”
[6]
Torvalds rated the chances of further releases as slim, based on his assessment of work on the current cut of the kernel.
[7]Don't expect a new cut of Linux to ease your NYE hangovers
[8]Linus Torvalds releases Linux 5.16 rc1 with new performance-enhancing memory tech
[9]Felt Qt (might delete later)*: Two non-Gtk Linux desktops have put out new versions
The maintainer-in-chief’s mpst signed off with his customary suggestion that penguinistas take this week’s release for a spin.
“I know most of us are preparing for Christmas, but give it a whirl, ok? How important are those presents (and that family) anyway?”
If you follow Torvalds’ advice, you’ll find lots of drivers to ponder, mainly pertaining to networking, USB, and GPUs. Torvalds also rated bpf seltest as quite prominent.
The decision to issue an eighth release candidate means Linux 5.16 should emerge on January 9th. The first significant date of the Linux year is Linux.conf.au, which kicks off on January 14th, 2022. Developers may therefore find the first few days of the merge window are busy, before tuning in to the FOSS action down under. ®
Get our [10]Tech Resources
[1] http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/2112.2/03276.html
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YcAOAtXb3aFz3wofhkB1IQAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/14/dont_expect_a_new_cut/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YcAOAtXb3aFz3wofhkB1IQAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YcAOAtXb3aFz3wofhkB1IQAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YcAOAtXb3aFz3wofhkB1IQAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/14/dont_expect_a_new_cut/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/15/linux_5_16_rc1/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/09/new_qt_linux_desktops/
[10] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Malcolm Weir
Just a teeny point.... the 'alternative' OS has a market penetration that makes Windows look like a college hobbyist operating system...
(Every Android phone as well as all sorts of embedded things like routers.)
Not been a Penguinista for a few years now, I work with Windows, and have MS at home too, so my only concession is a laptop dual booting with Kali and Mint, but that being said, there is STILL that little tingle down the neck, knowing the next RC is about to drop, and I have NO idea why ffs :o)
I am NO Linux Guru, nor even a Windows one truth be told, but it's just nice to hear the 'alternative' OS is still alive and kicking, long may it do so