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Torvalds Polls Desire for Linux's Next Major Version Bump

Posted by Soulskill on from the numbers-game dept.

jones_supa writes: Linus Torvalds made this post about Linux version numbering: "So, I made noises some time ago about how I don't want another 2.6.39 where the numbers are big enough that you can't really distinguish them. We're slowly getting up there again, with 3.20 being imminent, and I'm once more close to running out of fingers and toes. I was making noises about just moving to 4.0 some time ago. But let's see what people think. So — continue with v3.20, because bigger numbers are sexy, or just move to v4.0 and reset the numbers to something smaller?" To voice your opinion, the Google+ post allows you to discuss the matter and cast a vote in a poll.

7 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Is semver too simplistic for kernels? by tomxor · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Makes it sound like what determines a version bump is somewhat arbitrary, are kernels just too complex for them to fit into a simple versioning convention?

  2. Why mess with v4.0? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why not just skip directly to Linux 10?

    1. Re:Why mess with v4.0? by arfonrg · · Score: 5, Funny

      You can't just skip over Linux ME, Linux 2000, Linux Vista, Linux XP and Linux 8!

      --
      Your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
  3. Major Version == Major Changes by HighOrbit · · Score: 5, Informative
    I thought the point of a major version (not necessarily in the Linux kernel, but software generally), was to signal a major change that either:
    • includes ground-breaking new features
    • includes serious archtectural reworking
    • breaks backwards compatibility

    If the changes are merely incremental bug-fixes and minor feature additions, stay with minor versioning. Otherwise, you are not versioning; you are branding (viz: Windows 8... which IIRC is version 6.2)

    1. Re:Major Version == Major Changes by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 5, Funny

      I thought the point of a major version (not necessarily in the Linux kernel, but software generally), was to signal a major change

      Look at the choices in the poll itself:

      1. I like big versions, and I cannot lie

      You other coders can't deny.
      When a kernel boots up with an itty bitty place
      And a round digit in userspace
      You get sprung

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
  4. Re:Why Linus Forces users to use Google+ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's not like any blog hosting/software would be different. One still have to register to leave a comment - as it always was.

    I guess I didn't get that memo.

  5. imposter! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Asking for people to vote on things?! Linus' email has obviously been haxxed.