Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux Kernel 5.18 right on schedule. The release also means that the merge window for 5.19 is open one day after the release. Linux Kernel 5.18 was released after seven release candidates allowing developers to fix bugs and improve its functionality.
What’s new?
With the latest release, Linux Kernel switches to the C11 compiler standard. Linux Kernel 5.18 also comes with “user events” support in the tracing system and AMD’s “host system management port” function support. Linux Kernel 5.18 also supports 64-bit integrity checksums for NVMe devices and Intel’s “hardware feedback interface. The release supports indirect branch tracking for x86 architectures. Linux Kernel 5.18 is also capable of processing process scheduling performance on AMD Zen CPUs better.
Linux Kernel 5.18 will support two new ioctl() operations to improve the Btrfs file system, which allows encoded I/O and faster fsync. Also, ReiserFS has been deprecated, which is expected to be removed in 2025. Linux Kernel 5.18 comes with improvements for XFS and F2Fs. The new kernel also includes new input drivers for Mediatek MT6779 keypad and Imagis touchscreens, x86 Android tablet driver workarounds, Apple Keyboard support improvements, and Razer HID driver.
FAQ
What is the most recent Linux kernel?
The latest version of Linux Kernel is 6.2 and it was released on February 20, 2023. Also, the latest LTS (Long-Term Support) version of Linux Kernel is 6.1 and it was released on December 11, 2022.
How do you check the installed Linux kernel version?
You can check the Linux kernel version of your system with three different methods. You can simply use uname -r command to quickly check the Linux kernel version. You can also use cat /proc/version to check the version from a file. Installing the neofetch application is also an option to check the kernel version and it provides additional information about the other packages installed as well.
Can the Linux kernel be customized?
Yes, the Linux kernel can be customized. You can customize the Linux kernel by enabling or disabling specific options, and even adding new functionalities. But it’s a complicated process; you can check online guides about customizing the Linux kernel.
Is it legal to edit the Linux kernel?
Yes, it is legal to edit the Linux kernel since it is under General Public License.
Is the Linux kernel open source?
Yes, the Linux kernel is an open-source project.
Who developed the Linux kernel?
Linus Torvalds has developed and still developing the Linux kernel.
Does Linus Torvalds still work on Linux?
Yes, Linus Torvalds still works on developing the Linux kernel.
What is the Linux kernel written in?
Linux kernel code is written in the standard C programming language.