Linux 5.12 may be delayed
Torvalds says the latest Linux release might need an extra week of testing
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The final release of the next version of theLinuxkernel might be pushed back by a week, following a larger than expected release candidate (RC).
One of the largest RC releases, Linux kernel 5.12-rc7, is just the latest in a series of issues that have plagued the current release cycle.
“I’m still waffling about the final 5.12 release. The fact that we have a big rc7 does make me think that I’ll probably do an rc8 this time around,”wrote Linus Torvalds, the release manager of the mainline Linux kernel.
Spanner in the works
This isn’t the first time that Torvalds has contemplated extending the development cycle by a week. The thought first crossed his mind as heput out Linux 5.12-rc5a couple of weeks back, which was big enough to make Torvalds think about the extension.
Last week’s rc6 was uncharacteristically small, probably as it was released during the Easter weekend, allaying any fears of delay. However the concerns have resurfaced with the mammoth rc7, which Torvalds shares is the biggest rc7 in the 5.x series.
While it’s never a dull week in kernel development, the 5.12 cycle has been particularly stimulating. Its verystart was threatenedby icy storms that battered most of the United States and left Torvalds without electricity for almost a week. Then there was thefilesystem corruption issuethat brought down several continuous integration systems atIntel.
Linux kernels usually go through seven RCs, pushed out every Sunday by Torvalds after reviewing and pooling in all the submissions sent in by various kernel developers over the preceding week. Due to the number of changes, Torvalds might do an extra rc8 release, like he did during the development of the 5.9 release, to allow for an extra week of testing.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
With almost two decades of writing and reporting on Linux, Mayank Sharma would like everyone to think he’sTechRadar Pro’sexpert on the topic. Of course, he’s just as interested in other computing topics, particularly cybersecurity, cloud, containers, and coding.
Google puts Nvidia on high alert as it showcases Trillium, its rival AI chip, while promising to bring H200 Tensor Core GPUs within days
A new form of macOS malware is being used by devious North Korean hackers
OLED vs Mini-LED: which TV type is best?
