- The release of the first release candidate of Linux kernel 6.1 marks the end of the two-week merge window.
- The most significant changes in the latest version are the multi-gen LRU VM series and the initial Rust scaffolding.
- Since it is the last Linux kernel release of 2022, it is expected to be long-term support, but it is not officially confirmed yet.
Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux kernel 6.1-rc1, which is waiting to be tested. Which also means that two weeks of merge window, which started with the release of Linux kernel 6.0, is now over. The first release candidate also offers a glimpse of the new features that will be included in the final release.
Long-term support
As the final release of the year, Linux kernel 6.1 is expected to be long-term support, but it is not officially confirmed yet. The final release is expected to be released in the first half of December 2022.
The most significant change in the new version is the long-awaited merge of the Rust infrastructure. It is only expected to be a basic implementation of support for the Rust language but it can be the beginning of something big. Another major change is the multi-gen LRU VM series, which offers better performance for systems with limited memory. Linus Torvalds also stated that it will be a large release. Linus Torvalds, developer of Linux said,
« This isn’t actually shaping up to be a particularly large release: we “only” have 11.5k non-merge commits during this merge window, compared to 13.5k last time around. So not exactly tiny, but smaller than the last few releases. At least in number of commits.
That said, we’ve got a few core things that have been brewing for a long time, most notably the multi-gen LRU VM series, and the initial Rust scaffolding (no actual real Rust code in the kernel yet, but the infrastructure is there). »
FAQ
What is the most recent Linux kernel?
Currently, the most recent Linux kernel version is 6.1. The 6.2 version is expected to be released in the middle of February 2023.
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.