Linux Kernel 2.6.32 Released

diegocg writes "Linus Torvalds has officially released the version 2.6.32 of the Linux kernel. New features include virtualization memory de-duplication, a rewrite of the writeback code faster and more scalable, many important Btrfs improvements and speedups, ATI R600/R700 3D and KMS support and other graphic improvements, a CFQ low latency mode, tracing improvements including a 'perf timechart' tool that tries to be a better bootchart, soft limits in the memory controller, support for the S+Core architecture, support for Intel Moorestown and its new firmware interface, run-time power management support, and many other improvements and new drivers. See the full changelog for more details."

Comments

Re:Btrfs: kill off ext# please!

[Jack Malmostoso]

ReiserFS was set to kill them off, but unfortunately found another victim first

Too soon!

Re:People work on the "easy" problems

[shutdown -p now]

That is, because developing a faster kernel is a much easier problem than developing a fun, usable desktop environment.

I disagree, it's not an easier problem. It is, however, a much more interesting problem to solve, especially to skilled hackers.

One other aspect here is that the target audience is bigger for the kernel. Desktop uptake is still very low, but kernel is used by any device that runs Linux, whether it's a router, a smartphone, a server, or a netbook. This has a side effect of kernel hacking being better financed than desktop development, as there are more commercial players interested specifically in the kernel, who couldn't care less about KDE or Gnome.

Re:People work on the "easy" problems

[Hatta]

Making a good desktop environment is extremely challenging, as shown by the fact that no one has made one yet.