Linux Kernel 6.12 RC1 Released: PREEMPT_RT Mainlined and Sched_ext Merged

Linux Kernel 6.12 RC1: A Closer Look at the First Release Candidate

Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux Kernel 6.12 RC1 on September 29, 2024, signaling the close of the merge window and the commencement of rigorous testing. Despite travel commitments for key developers, progress has been consistent, yielding several noteworthy enhancements.

Key New Features and Enhancements:

This release boasts two significant additions:

1. PREEMPT_RT Mainlined: Real-time capabilities are now integrated, boosting responsiveness for applications demanding precise timing. Activation requires selecting the "EXPERT" configuration option.
2. sched_ext Integration: This scheduling extension improves task management within the kernel.

Driver Updates and Hardware Support:

Drivers constitute a substantial portion (approximately 55%) of the changes in 6.12 RC1, encompassing updates for USB, Thunderbolt, and serial interfaces, among others. Device tree source files (DTS), describing hardware configurations, account for an additional 5%, bringing the combined driver and hardware-related updates to 60%.

Documentation and Tooling Improvements:

Documentation enhancements represent 5% of the updates, ensuring continued accessibility for developers and users. Tooling updates, primarily focused on perf (performance profiling) and self-tests, comprise 10% of the changes.

Core Kernel Modifications:

The remaining 25% of updates affect core kernel components:

• Architectural Advancements: Improvements across various architectures, including x86, ARM, PowerPC, LoongArch, and MIPS.
• Filesystem Enhancements: Continued development on btrfs, bcachefs, ext4, NFS, and XFS filesystems, with particular focus on bcachefs's hybrid storage capabilities.
• Networking Upgrades: Updates to server and client-side networking components (SMB, NFS), along with core networking and security layers.
• Memory Management (MM) Optimizations: Improvements to memory management for enhanced efficiency and resource handling.
• Rust Language Support: Continued integration of Rust programming language support.
• Security Enhancements: Strengthened security modules and vulnerability fixes.

Release Statistics:

Linux 6.12 RC1 incorporates over 11,000 commits from more than 1,700 authors, processing 850 merge requests. This widespread contribution underscores the vibrant and collaborative nature of the Linux kernel community.

Testing Linux Kernel 6.12 RC1:

With the merge window closed, testing is crucial for stability. Users are encouraged to download and test 6.12 RC1 from Kernel.org or Linus Torvalds's git tree. Remember: This is a development version; avoid using it on production systems.

Estimated Final Release Date:

Based on a typical 7-8 week RC cycle, the final release of Linux Kernel 6.12 is projected for late November or early December 2024, potentially between November 24th and December 1st, 2024. This is an estimate; the actual date may vary depending on testing results.

Conclusion:

Linux Kernel 6.12 RC1 introduces key features like PREEMPT_RT and sched_ext, along with significant improvements across various subsystems. Further refinements and bug fixes are anticipated before the final release.

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