Last updated October 23, 2018
If you’ve been waiting for a stable (and longterm) Kernel release now, Kernel 4.19 is here. As mentioned on the Linux Kernel’s mailing list webpage, it is not a big Kernel release – but it is meant to be a longterm release. Which means that this release will be supported for a few years at least.
Probably you are aware of the changes in the Linux Code of Conduct and Linus Torvalds taking a break to work on his behavior towards other developers. We have some good news about it along with the new Kernel release as well.
Greg KH, who was handling the kernel maintenance indicated that Linus Torvalds is coming back to lead the Linux Kernel:
“And with that, Linus, I’m handing the kernel tree back to you. You can
have the joy of dealing with the merge window :)”
What Kernel 4.19 is all about?
He also mentioned about the Linux Kernel 4.19 changes as an overview of what it actually is:
“While it was not the largest kernel release every by number of commits, it was larger than the last 3 releases, which is a non-trivial thing to do. After the original -rc1 bumps, things settled down on the code side and it looks like stuff came nicely together to make a solid kernel for everyone to use for a while. And given that this is going to be one of the “Long Term” kernels I end up maintaining for a few years, that’s good news for everyone.
A small trickle of good bugfixes came in this week, showing that waiting an extra week was a wise choice. However odds are that linux-next is just bursting so the next -rc1 merge window is going to be bigger than “normal“, if there is such a thing as “normal” for our rate of development.”
Let’s list the major new features in this new release:
- Alternate mode driver for USB Type-C/DisplayPort Type-C support
- Support for Nintendo guitar and drum accessories
- Better support for Intel’s Low Power Subsystem (LPSS)
- Plenty of 64-bit ARM improvements
- Support for Qualcomm Adreno 600 series hardware
- Initial support for Intel Icelake graphics
- DRM improvements
- Improved power management
- Touchscreen improvement
- Initial support for the 802.11ax WLAN
- Various Filesystem improvements
For the complete changelog details, you should check out OMG Ubuntu or the official announcement.
Greg on the recent issues in the Linux community over the ‘Code of Conduct’
Greg also utilized the opportunity of this Kernel release to shed some light on the recent issue on Linux code of conduct – by explaining how we can improve the community:
“These past few months has been a tough one for our community, as it is our community that is fighting from within itself, with prodding from others outside of it. Don’t fall into the cycle of arguing about those “others” in the “Judean People’s Front” when we are the “We’re the People’s Front of Judea!” That is the trap that countless communities have fallen into over the centuries. We all share the same goal, let us neverloose sight of that.
So here is my plea to everyone out there. Let’s take a day or two off, rest, relax with friends by sharing a meal, recharge, and then get back to work, to help continue to create a system that the world has never seen the likes of, together.”
What do you think about the latest Linux Kernel release?