On 11/07/06, Daniel Rodrick <daniel.rodrick@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi list, I have a very basic query regarding the kernel versioning. I read that the even numbered versions (like 2.6.x) are stable versions, where as odd numbered versions (like 2.5.x) are development versions. I now see only 2.6.x versions coming out (on kernel.org). I don't see any development version 2.7.x coming out. Is currently all the development going on directly in the 2.6.x series and hence no 2.7.x series?
Correct. The development model changed a while back. What happens now is this : All development happens against the latest 2.6 kernel. Intrusive changes or changes that need to stabilize first /need lots of testing are merged into Andrew Mortons -mm tree and tested there. Once a patch has proven itself in -mm it is merged into mainline. Some patches go directly to mainline. Whenever a new stable 2.6.x kernel is released a two week merge window opens. During these two weeks new stuff is merged into Linus's git tree and after two weeks the window closes and Linus releasesan -rc1 kernel. Then work is focused on stabilizing the first release candidate and new release candidates are released regularly for as long as Linus deems nessecary. Once the new kernel is regarded as sufficiently stable a new 2.6.x kernel is released, a new merge windo opens and the cycle repeats... If critical bugs are discovered in the current stable 2.6.x kernel, then a 2.6.x.y -stable kernel is released with a hotfix. This goes on until the next 2.6.x kernel comes out. For more information see these documents : http://sosdg.org/~coywolf/lxr/source/Documentation/stable_kernel_rules.txt http://sosdg.org/~coywolf/lxr/source/Documentation/applying-patches.txt (you can start reading at the "The 2.6.x kernels" section and skip the first part of the document) http://sosdg.org/~coywolf/lxr/source/Documentation/HOWTO -- Jesper Juhl <jesper.juhl@xxxxxxxxx> Don't top-post http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/T/top-post.html Plain text mails only, please http://www.expita.com/nomime.html - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-newbie" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.linux-learn.org/faqs
