Linus Torvalds Announces Linux 4.0
But what do the big numbers really mean?
Linus Torvalds has announced that the next release of the Linux kernel will have the name Linux 4.0. This release will mark the end of the Linux 3.X series, which began in July, 2011, and will mark the beginning of a new 4.X series. The announcement comes after Linus polled kernel developers to see if they were ready to start a new series. (If the developers had voted down the 4.0 name, the release would have been Linux 3.20.)
The next release has received some significant attention for adding live kernel patching. Still, the casual attitude of Linus and the other developers regarding the release number is strangely comical--seemingly a parody of the commercial software industry, where a new "major release" is accompanied with vast explosions of fanfare and hype. As Linus says in his message to the kernel mailing list, "Because the people have spoken, and while most of it was complete gibberish, numbers don't lie. People preferred 4.0 and 4.0 it shall be. Unless somebody can come up with a good reason against it."
According to the Torvalds, the strongest argument for some people wishing for the start of the 4.X series was "..a wish to see 4.1.5, because that was the version of Linux skynet used to the T-800 Terminator," an android played by Arnold Schwartzenegger in the Terminator film series.
He goes on to the report that "...moving to 4.0 does not mean that we somehow changed what people see. It's all just more of the same, just with smaller numebrs so that I can do releases without having to take off my socks again." Torvalds plays down the argument that it is better for a major number change to match a major feature release, stating "We don't break compatibility, and we haven't done feature-based releases since basically forever."
The current version of Linux 4.0 is a release candidate. The kernel team will wait for feedback and bug fixes before posting the final release.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Endless OS 6 has Arrived
After more than a year since the last update, the latest release of Endless OS is now available for general usage.
-
Fedora Asahi 40 Remix Available for Macs with Apple Silicon
If you've been anticipating KDE's Plasma 6 for your Apple Silicon-powered Mac, then you're in luck.
-
Red Hat Adds New Deployment Option for Enterprise Linux Platforms
Red Hat has re-imagined enterprise Linux for an AI future with Image Mode.
-
OSJH and LPI Release 2024 Open Source Pros Job Survey Results
See what open source professionals look for in a new role.
-
Proton 9.0-1 Released to Improve Gaming with Steam
The latest release of Proton 9 adds several improvements and fixes an issue that has been problematic for Linux users.
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.