Linus Torvalds released Linux 7.2, although the last week of development was again noticeably more active than he would like. The creator of Linux did not postpone the release due to the large flow of fixes. According to Torvalds, if you carry out the issue of the kernel every time for such reason, the next release can not wait at all.
Before the final release, the developers managed to roll back several changes that led to problems. Among the most notable Torvalds named kickbacks in the DRM planner associated with the work of the graphics subsystem. This approach does not look too beautiful, the developer admitted, but allows you to quickly remove the code that was not ready for release.
Unusually large sets of fixes are gradually becoming a “new norm” for Linux. A week before the release, Torvalds already complained about the size of Linux 7.2-rc7. A significant portion of the changes were small fixes, including errors found when checking the code by various AI-powered tools. At the same time, the developers did not find critical problems that would justify the transfer of Linux 7.2.
One of the most notable technical innovations of Linux 7.2 was Cache Aware Scheduling. The new mechanism helps the kernel planner to take into account the data already in the processor cache. Instead of transferring the task to another kernel and re-applying to memory, the system may try to leave the calculations closer to the desired data. This approach is particularly interesting for multi-core server processors like AMD EPYC 5 and Intel Xeon 6, where the location of data in the cache significantly affects performance.
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Linux 7.2 also received the changes needed to work on Apple computers with M3 processors. The developers updated the graphics subsystem and continued to prepare the core for future AMD, Intel and Nvidia processors. It is not only about supporting new devices after their release. Some of the infrastructure is added in advance so that Linux can quickly take advantage of the next generation of equipment.
In the new core there was a place for much more unusual equipment. Linux now supports Zenaim Leverless, a game controller without a familiar lever, designed primarily for fighting games and cybersports. The device is a panel with a set of buttons that the player controls the movement of the character and performs combinations.
At the same time, the developers continue to clear the core from technologies that have almost ceased to be used. Linux 7.2 terminates support for the AppleTalk network protocol, as well as older ISA and PCMCIA adapters for ARCNet networks. Removing such code reduces the amount of legacy infrastructure that developers have to maintain and verify with each new release.
Linux 7.2 shows how the kernel development process itself changes. The number of small fixes is growing, AI tools are increasingly involved in code verification, and the final weeks before the release are becoming more saturated. Torvalds is not yet delighted with this mode, but it is not going to change the usual cycle of the nucleus due to the new load.
Before the final release, the developers managed to roll back several changes that led to problems. Among the most notable Torvalds named kickbacks in the DRM planner associated with the work of the graphics subsystem. This approach does not look too beautiful, the developer admitted, but allows you to quickly remove the code that was not ready for release.
Unusually large sets of fixes are gradually becoming a “new norm” for Linux. A week before the release, Torvalds already complained about the size of Linux 7.2-rc7. A significant portion of the changes were small fixes, including errors found when checking the code by various AI-powered tools. At the same time, the developers did not find critical problems that would justify the transfer of Linux 7.2.
One of the most notable technical innovations of Linux 7.2 was Cache Aware Scheduling. The new mechanism helps the kernel planner to take into account the data already in the processor cache. Instead of transferring the task to another kernel and re-applying to memory, the system may try to leave the calculations closer to the desired data. This approach is particularly interesting for multi-core server processors like AMD EPYC 5 and Intel Xeon 6, where the location of data in the cache significantly affects performance.
.
Linux 7.2 also received the changes needed to work on Apple computers with M3 processors. The developers updated the graphics subsystem and continued to prepare the core for future AMD, Intel and Nvidia processors. It is not only about supporting new devices after their release. Some of the infrastructure is added in advance so that Linux can quickly take advantage of the next generation of equipment.
In the new core there was a place for much more unusual equipment. Linux now supports Zenaim Leverless, a game controller without a familiar lever, designed primarily for fighting games and cybersports. The device is a panel with a set of buttons that the player controls the movement of the character and performs combinations.
At the same time, the developers continue to clear the core from technologies that have almost ceased to be used. Linux 7.2 terminates support for the AppleTalk network protocol, as well as older ISA and PCMCIA adapters for ARCNet networks. Removing such code reduces the amount of legacy infrastructure that developers have to maintain and verify with each new release.
Linux 7.2 shows how the kernel development process itself changes. The number of small fixes is growing, AI tools are increasingly involved in code verification, and the final weeks before the release are becoming more saturated. Torvalds is not yet delighted with this mode, but it is not going to change the usual cycle of the nucleus due to the new load.
