This article documents the version history of the
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is a Free and open-source software, free and open source Unix-like kernel (operating system), kernel that is used in many computer systems worldwide. The kernel was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and was soon adopted as the k ...
.
Each major version identified by the first two numbers of a release version is designated one of the following levels of support:
* Supported until next stable version and 3 months after that
*
Long-term support
Long-term support (LTS) is a product lifecycle management policy in which a stable release of computer software is maintained for a longer period of time than the standard edition. The term is typically reserved for open-source software, where it ...
(LTS); maintained for a few years
* Super-long-term support (SLTS); maintained for many more years by the Civil Infrastructure Platform (CIP)
[
]
Overview
Releases 6.x.y
, 6.1.141
, December 2027
August 2033
,
*
Support for writing kernel modules in Rust
* Multi-Gen LRU
page reclaiming (not yet enabled by default)
* Btrfs performance improvements
* Support for more sound hardware
* Improved support for game controllers
, 23rd LTS release
Used in Debian 12 "Bookworm"
4th SLTS release (which CIP is planning
[ to support until August 2033)
6.1.28 is named Curry Ramen
, -
,
,
, 6.0.19]
Releases 5.x.y
Releases 4.x.y
Releases 3.x.y
The jump from 2.6.x to 3.x wasn't because of a breaking update, but rather the first release of a new versioning scheme introduced as a more convenient system.[
]
Releases 2.6.x.y
Versions 2.6.16 and 2.6.27 of the Linux kernel were unofficially given long-term support
Long-term support (LTS) is a product lifecycle management policy in which a stable release of computer software is maintained for a longer period of time than the standard edition. The term is typically reserved for open-source software, where it ...
(LTS), before a 2011 working group
A working group is a group of experts working together to achieve specified goals. Such groups are domain-specific and focus on discussion or activity around a specific subject area. The term can sometimes refer to an interdisciplinary collab ...
in the Linux Foundation
The Linux Foundation (LF) is a non-profit organization established in 2000 to support Linux development and open-source software projects.
Background
The Linux Foundation started as Open Source Development Labs in 2000 to standardize and prom ...
started a formal long-term support initiative.
Releases before 2.6.0
See also
* Linux adoption
* Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is a Free and open-source software, free and open source Unix-like kernel (operating system), kernel that is used in many computer systems worldwide. The kernel was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and was soon adopted as the k ...
* History of Linux
Linux began in 1991 as a personal project by Finnish student Linus Torvalds to create a new free operating system kernel. The resulting Linux kernel has been marked by constant growth throughout its history. Since the initial release of its s ...
* Timeline of free and open-source software
References
External links
Official Linux kernel website
on the official Linux kernel website
Linux versions changelog
in Linux Kernel Newbies
Kernel coverage
at LWN.net
*
{{Timelines of computing
Linux kernel
Software version histories