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Linus on Kernel Version Numbering
walshy007 writes "In a recent thread it was asked what it would take for an 'unstable' 2.7 development tree to be created, to which Linus replied:
'Nothing. I'm not going back to the old model. The new model is so much better that it's not even worth entertaining as a theory to go back. That said, I _am_ considering changing just the numbering. Not to go back to the old model, but because a constantly increasing minor number leads to big numbers. I'm not all that thrilled with "26" as a number: it's hard to remember. I think the time-based releases (ie the "2 weeks of merge window until -rc1, followed by roughly two months of stabilization") has been so successful that I'd prefer to skip the version numbering model too. We don't do releases based on "features" any more, so why should we do version _numbering_ based on "features"?'"
version 2.0 ...
Linus... has... jumped the shark. The number versions... his version control insanities... He's no longer Linux's greatest advantage. He's now doing more to hold back the community than anything else. (dear god this is going to hurt the karma)
Modding Trolls +1 inciteful since 1999
What did it ever do to you?
Besides, it's accomplished a lot:
In mathematics
Inherent mathematical properties
Twenty-six is a composite number, its proper divisors being 1, 2, and 13. 26 is the only number between a square number and a cube number, the numbers being 25 (5 squared) and 27 (3 cubed). This was first proved by Pierre de Fermat.
It is the 7th distinct biprime (2.13) and the 5th with 2 as its lowest non-unitary prime factor. The aliquot sum of 26 is 16 with an aliquot sequence of 8 members; (26,16,15,9,4,3,1,0), leading to 0 through the prime 3 the 6th composite number so to do and so the sixth member of the 3-aliquot tree.
There is no solution to the equation Ï(x) = 26, making 26 a nontotient. Nor is there a solution to x - Ï(x) = 26, making 26 a noncototient.
In the classification of finite simple groups there are 26 sporadic groups.
Properties of its positional representation in certain radixes
Twenty-six is a repdigit in base three (222) and in base twelve (22).
In base ten, 26 is the smallest number that is not a palindrome to have a square which is (26^2=676).
Twenty-six is the number of five-digit prime quadruplets, the first of which is {13001, 13003, 13007, 13009}[1].
In science
Astronomy
Anyone who has problems with "large numbers such as 26" probably shouldn't be doing kernel coding ... just sayin' ;-)
"Good news, everyone!"
If Windows had a kernel numbered 1.33.7 with a beta name of "Loopy Longhorn", would it be a better finished product?
The obvious answer is yes. It'd be 1337, of course it'd be better!
"16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
Can anyone help? I installed the 2.6.26 kernel on my pentium, but it keeps saying I have version 2.6.25999999999993 installed?
What has the kernel to do with printer drivers? It has always been CUPS domain.
Back in my day, used lpd, AND WE LIKED IT!
--fatboy
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me
If Windows had a kernel numbered 1.33.7 with a beta name of "Loopy Longhorn", would it be a better finished product?
I painted racing stripes on my car so it can go faster
kernel x or if I need to update to kernel y
So you are a fan of letter based versioning then?