Kernel 4.0

[as2000]

If this was possible, what would you think it should be?

[conundrumx]

Of course it's possible, but how long would it take to reach this point? Will Linux even exist by then? We've been in the 2.x series for a long time (over ten years), and one would assume some pretty radical changes would be necessary to shift to 3.x.

Computers as we know them may be fundamentally different by the time a 4.0 kernel would be appropriate

[amauk]

the 2.6 bit of recent kernels (post-2004) is pretty much superfluous. It's a throwback from the previous development model

There will never be a 2.7, or 3.0, or 4.0
Such version numbers are not needed with the current development model

[Slug71]

the 2.6 bit of recent kernels (post-2004) is pretty much superfluous. It's a throwback from the previous development model

There will never be a 2.7, or 3.0, or 4.0
Such version numbers are not needed with the current development model

This.

If they did ever change to anything else i hope the major stuff is, debloat and bugs. Especially since tech wise, its pretty good right now and already supports a lot of upcoming technologies.

[CarpKing]

Hurd.

[Arex Bawrin]

Can someone please post a link on what the numbers actually represent on the linux kernel version. Why (after ten years) are they still on version 2.x?

[amauk]

The kernel's original development model used odd numbers for development releases, and even numbers for stable releases

- A new stable kernel, 2.2 was released, expected to be maintained for a number of years and would receive only bug & security fixes

- Linus opens 2.3, and development of new features would commence

- At some point, it's decided that 2.3 would not receive any new features, and focus was moved to stabilising the new version

- At some point, it's considered stable, named 2.4 and released, expected to be maintained for a number of years and would receive only bug & security fixes

- Linus opens 2.5, and development of new features would commence

......
....
..


When 2.6 was released, they changed the development model
There were lots of things considered "wrong" or difficult with the even/odd model - not least that new stable kernels appeared every couple of years, and this was a long time for something that needs to keep up with the latest hardware developments

The new model shifted to faster, more incremental releases
The idea of a "stable" and a "development" kernel was abolished, and instead every release is considered "stable"

the 2.6 prefix just got carried over to the new model

[Slug71]

http://www.daniweb.com/news/story218605.html

[mips]

This.

If they did ever change to anything else i hope the major stuff is, debloat and bugs. Especially since tech wise, its pretty good right now and already supports a lot of upcoming technologies.

My wish would be for a modern microkernel.

[Oxwivi]

If 3 is ever to appear I hope it'd a completely debloated version of those before. I think it's essential to have debloating teams on the development team that analyzes the code periodically. Resulting in the leanest and meanest kernel ever! :D

[RATM_Owns]

http://lkml.org/lkml/2005/3/2/247


- 2.6.<odd>: still a stable kernel, but accept bigger changes leading up
to it (timeframe: a month or two).
- 2.<odd>.x: aim for big changes that may destabilize the kernel for
several releases (timeframe: a year or two)
- <odd>.x.x: Linus went crazy, broke absolutely _everything_, and rewrote
the kernel to be a microkernel using a special message-passing version
of Visual Basic. (timeframe: "we expect that he will be released from
the mental institution in a decade or two").

[danbuter]

My wish would be for a modern microkernel.

If you read Linus' book, you'll see he thinks microkernels suck. :P

[Slug71]

This.

If they did ever change to anything else i hope the major stuff is, debloat and bugs. Especially since tech wise, its pretty good right now and already supports a lot of upcoming technologies.


My wish would be for a modern microkernel.


If 3 is ever to appear I hope it'd a completely debloated version of those before. I think it's essential to have debloating teams on the development team that analyzes the code periodically. Resulting in the leanest and meanest kernel ever! :D

Yup.
Even Linus admits the Kernel is bloated. Hopefully some focus will be shifted towards it in upcoming releases.

[mips]

If you read Linus' book, you'll see he thinks microkernels suck. :P

The good thing is that the word of Linus does not constitute gospel ;)

All HURD kernels looked at so far in recent years were of the microkernel variety, Mach microkernel, L4 microkernel, Coyotos & Viengoos

I like this article, http://www.coyotos.org/docs/misc/linus-rebuttal.html

[Zestypanda]

Wow it's hilarious to read these only threads of people saying "kernel 3.0 it'll never happen. Let alone kernel 2.9. See we're now on kernel 3.8 so hahahahah to those ignorant people who said 3.0 would never happen.

[philinux]

Back to sleep.