Linus Torvalds releases Linux 4.6 Linus Torvalds has loosed version 4.6 of the Linux kernel on the waiting world. “It's just as well I didn't cut the rc cycle short, since the last week ended up getting a few more fixes than expected,” wrote the Linux overlord. “Since rc7, there's been small noise all over, with driver fixes being the bulk of it, but there is …
Hi all – Can someone clarify what Linus is saying about noise? At first I thought he meant that the bug fixes addressed noise issues, maybe buzzing in audio drivers or something. That might be because I was just reading about blind testing of expensive USB DACs and whether people can hear any difference. What does Linus mean by noise?
A few months ago, I tried to build in the processor microcode update in the kernel. (Look, it's my kernel; I can if I want.) The code was there, and had been for many versions back, but I couldn't get it to work.
Then, in a submission to the kernel mailing list, a developer posted some very substantial patches, which should, apparently, make the functionality operate as expected. They should be in 4.6 -- I haven't yet checked the release notes.
The thing is, this was code in many "stable" kernel releases prior which can't ever have been tested: it was just broken. It's made me realise that I've had a somewhat rosy view of kernel quality control. After all, there are about 40,000 source files. Linus checks every change.
As a linux knowlessman I have little concrete understanding of the development/support community around the heart of linux and its ilk. This one chap seems rather crucial - I know who he is - but we are all mortal. What's the idea for futureproofing this setup?
Genuine question, but AC in case it violates allowable groupthink.
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