Linux Kernel Release Numbering Revisited

An anonymous reader writes "KernelTrap has a summary of a lengthy discussion on the Linux kernel mailing list, in which Linus Torvalds has suggested using an alternative numbering scheme for kernel development. The current 2.6 kernel has been different than older development trees, as active development has been happening at a rapid rate in the officially "stable" kernel, instead of forking the expected 2.7 "development branch" for this effort. In Linus' latest proposal, he suggests using the same odd and even arrangement where an odd number signifies a development release, and an even number signifies a stable release. The difference being that this will all happen under 2.6 and thus at a much more rapid rate. For example, the upcoming 2.6.12 release would focus on fixing bugs and thus be more stable, while the following 2.6.13 release would include new functionality and thus could be less stable."

Comments

Re:2.7?

[BinLadenMyHero]

Well, perhaps Linux is maturing enough where it could be 2.6 forever.

Only if Linux had a fixed goal, and it's not the case. Like TeX, that does what it does and that's it: it's perfect, nothing more to envolve. It's version number is converging to "pi", and is now 3.14159 IIRC. Each release adds a new digit. :)