Linus Torvalds has released a 5.18 version of the Linux kernel on schedule, but it hardly sounds happy with that
Torvalds said “nothing really stands out” for users of Linux distributions since the latest 5.18 update, calling the kernel “just plain boring 5.18.”
The news means that the merge window for the recent 5.19 kernel will open in hours, hoping to give loyal users a little more excitement.
Linux Update 5.18
The update will include parsing architecture fixes as well as “random driver updates”, including one up to Mellanox mlx5, and will also give Linux users “some other minor architecture fixes, some core networks and some tools”.
Linux fans who want to learn more can browse the update page here.
Expected changes to the upcoming 5.19 kernel include improved support for a variety of hardware from Intel, AMD and Apple.
These hardware parts include, but are not limited to, Intel DG2 / Alchemist graphics, Intel Raptor Lake P graphics support, and AMD SEV-SNP upstreaming according to Phoronix.
The increased collaboration between Intel and Linux seems to come from both sides, although Tovalds called Intel “the only worst company we’ve dealt with” in a 2012 speech.
Nvidia has published its open source Linux GPU modules with a dual GPL / MIT license, which is already available on GitHub.
The hardware giant says the move will allow for closer integration with the operating system and allow developers to debug, integrate and contribute back to their communities.
Although Torvalds greatly underestimated its importance, the 5.18 kernel provided several significant changes for users.
These include the introduction of the Intel Software Defined Silicon (SDSi) driver in the core.
The 5.18 core also includes hardware compatibility updates such as the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 processor, Tesla FSD chip (manufactured by Arm and Samsung), Razer Blackwidow keyboards, and steps to improve support for Apple Magic Keyboard.
https://www.techradar.com/news/the-latest-linux-kernel-is-really-boring-torvalds-says/
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