The release of Linux 6.1, the successor to the current system kernel Linux 6.0, will probably require an 8th release candidate, while the stable version will appear on December 11th. The final release was originally supposed to follow the 7th pre-release, but the developers still have a lot to do.
RC8 shifts Linux 6.1 to December 11
Initiator and chief developer Linus Torvalds released Linux 6.1 RC7 for testing at the weekend, but it will probably not stay that way, as the website linuxnews.de has now reported. Unlike the release of Linux 5.19, which was delayed due to problems with Intel's CPU firmware and also necessitated an eighth release candidate, this time the sheer amount of work is the sole reason for the postponement. Linux 6.1 was originally scheduled to be released on December 4th.
Work on the new feature set, which is usually nearing the home straight in this development cycle, is still ongoing in full swing.
- New AMD P-State Drivers (“Patch V5”)
- The driver is designed to provide better power efficiency than the generic ACPI CPUFreq driver and is for Zen 2, Zen 3, Zen 3+ and Zen 4 are planned.
- Among other things, the Precision Boost and the performance under low to medium loads are said to have been improved.
- Integration of the open-source programming language Rust
- The free programming language Rust is introduced as a second language in Linux alongside C
- AMD Platform Management Framework (PMF) integration
- AMD PMF Cool and Quiet Framework integration
- Multi-Gen LRU (MGLRU) integration in the kernel
- Patches for Raphael, Raptor Lake and Alchemist
As reported by Linus Torvalds, there are more than 11,000 submissions into Linux development during the two-week window 6.1 incorporated. It's a medium-sized release this time.
After the current kernel focused on extended support for AMD Ryzen 7000 (test) and Intel Core-i-13000 (test) as well as the graphics cards of the first Arc generation (“Alchemist”), the developers are implementing more in the upcoming kernel What's new.
Among other things, the free programming language Rust will be introduced as a second language under Linux alongside C and the P-state driver for performance scaling of APUs and CPUs with Zen 2, Zen 3, Zen 3+ and Zen 4 will also be available with the new patch V5 Optimized for even more efficiency.
AMD RNDA 3, PMF and Wi-Fi 7
In addition, the Precision Boost and the performance under low to medium loads should benefit from this measure and the AMD Platform Management Framework and its Cool and Quiet Framework should be implemented.
The Linux developers are also working on support for RDNA 3 and Radeon RX 7000 and have started preparations for Wi-Fi 7. All of this extends the final phase of the release cycle significantly, as Linus Torvalds has confirmed.
As a result, I'm now pretty sure that this is going to be one of those “we'll have an extra week and I'll make an rc8” releases. Which then in turn means that now the next merge window will be solidly in the holiday season. Whatever. It is what it is.
Linus Torvalds
Linux 6.1 LTS as last release 2022
Linux 6.1 will be the last new operating system kernel this year and, according to kernel developer Greg Kroah-Hartman, will probably appear as an LTS release before the next regular offshoot, Linux 6.2, is to follow in early 2023.