New Linux Kernel Development Process

An anonymous reader writes "Releasing the 2.6.13-rc4 Linux Kernel, Linus Torvalds announced an improved development process to try and minimize the number of bugs in the kernel. The general idea is simple: changes will only be allowed for two weeks after the release of a stable kernel. All the rest of the time between releases will be spent on fixing bugs. This should improve upon last year's development module, which allows for active development in the 2.6 stable kernel."

Comments

talking not enough

[enoraM]

>as many of you are aware, we were talking (not enough) about the release process at LKS this year.

As you may be aware, we're goin to talk more than enough about the release process at LKS, since your post is on slashdot ;-)

Don't stop there...

[Anonymous Coward]

Two branches one a server platform and the other a desktop platform

Just make the kernal completely modular.

Re:Splitting it

[Anonymous Coward]

How about splitting the kernel... Two branches one a server platform and the other a desktop platform... That way my server doesn't have audio or video4linux drivers in it... just raid, eth, and other important stuff... i bet it would reduce the size 10 fold... At least the development change is a good step in the right direction.

YEAH! Oh HEY, maybe you could even make all the drivers available as separate modules, and that way anybody could include anything they want, and remove anything they don't want. Oh, wait... you say it's already like that, and has been for years and years? Wow! Gosh! You Linux guys are amazing! Now my L337 S3rv0r will rock extra fast!

Re:OT: Slashdot main page

[Anonymous Coward]

That must be an uncomfortable situation when they are at the same party.

Re:Linux no longer a blue-collar kernel?

[Anonymous Coward]

that's a remarkably verbose post saying... what again? nothing? right.

HAL 9000 had audio drivers

[Anonymous Coward]

and i think he did just fine

Re:Linux no longer a blue-collar kernel?

[dtfinch]

Mods love that sort of stuff, especially when it's double-spaced, one sentence per paragraph.

Re:a philosophical contradiction?

[pilgrim23]

Even living gods get older....and some might say....wiser.....

Re:My gut tells me this is a bit extreme

[FrostedChaos]

You need

to stop pressing the retun key

As much as you have been.

It gets really annoying.

I mean it.

Re:a philosophical contradiction?

[po8]

If only we could have it both ways. If only there was some way that folks that needed stability could have some kind of stable Linux kernel, while folks who wanted to experiment with the latest and greatest features could have some kind of experimental kernel.

Perhaps we could use some kind of numbering scheme that separated the two; for example using "odd" version numbers like 2.7 for the experimental kernel series and even numbers like 2.6 or 2.8 for the stable series. One might imagine that periodically the matured changes in the experimental series could be merged back into the stable series, starting new series for both stable and experimental.

Maybe Linux should have instituted a process like this years ago. Then they'd have some experience with it by now, and could have it running smoothly instead of messing around with new development processes like they currently are.

Oh well. Just a crazy dream I had.

Re:MOD PARENT INFORMATIVE

[Peter La Casse]

I prefer "an" myself. As in: "try an minimize..." If I'm ever famous someday, you can quote me on slashdot2000 or whatever they'll be calling it then.