What to Expect from Linux 2.6.12

apt-get writes "Saw this Linuxworld report from the annual Australian Linux conference, Linux.conf.au, in Canberra last week. The article outlines some of the new features we can expect for the 2.6.12 kernel release, including: support for trusted computing, and security enhanced Linux. The kernel developers are also working on improving the 'feel' of the Linux desktop with inotify for file managers and events notification so hardware 'just works'. Unfortunately no release date other than 'sometime soon' is given."

Comments

Re:What about a better solution for device drivers

[hobuddy]

On a practical level, Linus has said many times that he won't do this because it would require freezing the internal kernel api. While this might sound good for an outsider, you only have to consider how much say the USB structure has been reorganised to realise how bad an idea it would have been if this was all frozen.

Microsoft has managed to deliver a stable driver API in the NT kernel over the last 5 years (across Windows 2000, XP, 2003). Why can't Linux do the same? Sloppy engineers who can't create a design in which they have confidence?

While this might sound good for an outsider

You call them outsiders; I call them users. I say their concerns should be paramount; you say they're not discerning enough to know what they need. Your condescending attitude toward users is why Linux has gained such minimal traction on the desktop.

Bridging completely broken...

[gnuman99]

Bridging is completely broken. I have tried it in 2.6.11 and the box went boom. I tried to bridge an ethernet (via_rhine) and usbnet (Zaurus) connections into one. After I enabled bridging, many applications started experiencing memory corruptions. I even had the box reboot automagically.

I also tried bridging between two ethernet segments (8139too). Failed in the same way...

The bridge was working otherwise (plus huge system instability)... Without the bridge, the kernel is rock solid. IPSec, IPv6 all work.