The ancient programming language of the Linux kernel is about to be replaced with a much newer one. It is currently written by the C89 code; it is the 1989 version of the C language. Linus Torvalds is targetting to upgrade it to the C11; 2011 version.
From 1989 to 2011
The 1989 version of the C programming language is not capable of declaring variables in loops
The necessity of the new version of the C programming language in the Linux kernel has appeared while fixing a bug. While fixing a potential security bug, Linus Torvalds has faced a problem with declaring a variable in a loop. C89 is not capable of doing that while C99 (1999 version) can. But Torvalds has decided to go way up to C11 (2011 version) since C99 was not popular and C11 has some cool features as well such as standardized multithreading.
Taking Linux kernel programming language from C89 to C11 sounds like something hard to achieve but because the C language is backward compatible, it is actually pretty easy. Torvalds is aiming to make the move until the Linux kernel 5.18 merge window which is likely to happen in mid-late March 2022.
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.