Linus on Kernel Version Numbering

walshy007 writes "In a recent thread it was asked what it would take for an 'unstable' 2.7 development tree to be created, to which Linus replied: 'Nothing. I'm not going back to the old model. The new model is so much better that it's not even worth entertaining as a theory to go back. That said, I _am_ considering changing just the numbering. Not to go back to the old model, but because a constantly increasing minor number leads to big numbers. I'm not all that thrilled with "26" as a number: it's hard to remember. I think the time-based releases (ie the "2 weeks of merge window until -rc1, followed by roughly two months of stabilization") has been so successful that I'd prefer to skip the version numbering model too. We don't do releases based on "features" any more, so why should we do version _numbering_ based on "features"?'"

also known as kernel numbering

[thrillseeker]

version 2.0 ...

Linus...

[Gewalt]

Linus... has... jumped the shark. The number versions... his version control insanities... He's no longer Linux's greatest advantage. He's now doing more to hold back the community than anything else. (dear god this is going to hurt the karma)

Stop Raggin' on 26

[Anonymous Coward]

What did it ever do to you?

Besides, it's accomplished a lot:

In mathematics

Inherent mathematical properties

Twenty-six is a composite number [slashdot.org], its proper divisors [slashdot.org] being 1 [slashdot.org], 2 [slashdot.org], and 13 [slashdot.org]. 26 is the only number between a square number [slashdot.org] and a cube number [slashdot.org], the numbers being 25 (5 [slashdot.org] squared) and 27 (3 [slashdot.org] cubed). This was first proved by Pierre de Fermat [slashdot.org].

It is the 7th distinct biprime [slashdot.org] (2.13) and the 5th with 2 as its lowest non-unitary prime factor. The aliquot sum [slashdot.org] of 26 is 16 with an aliquot sequence of 8 members; (26,16,15,9,4,3,1,0), leading to 0 through the prime 3 the 6th composite number so to do and so the sixth member of the 3-aliquot tree.

There is no solution to the equation Ï [slashdot.org](x) = 26, making 26 a nontotient [slashdot.org]. Nor is there a solution to x - Ï(x) = 26, making 26 a noncototient [slashdot.org].

In the classification of finite simple groups [slashdot.org] there are 26 sporadic groups.

Properties of its positional representation in certain radixes

Twenty-six is a repdigit [slashdot.org] in base [slashdot.org] three [slashdot.org] (222) and in base twelve [slashdot.org] (22).

In base ten [slashdot.org], 26 is the smallest number that is not a palindrome [slashdot.org] to have a square [slashdot.org] which is (26^2=676 [slashdot.org]).

Twenty-six is the number of five-digit prime quadruplets [slashdot.org], the first of which is {13001, 13003, 13007, 13009}[1] [slashdot.org].

In science

• The atomic number [slashdot.org] of iron [slashdot.org]
• The number of spacetime [slashdot.org] dimensions [slashdot.org] in bosonic string theory [slashdot.org].

Astronomy

• Messier object [slashdot.org] M26 [slashdot.org], a magnitude [slashdot.org] 9.5 open cluster [slashdot.org] in the constellation [slashdot.org] Scutum [slashdot.org]

• The New General Catalogue [slashdot.org] object [ngcic.org] NGC 26 [slashdot.org], a spiral galaxy [slashdot.org] in the constellation Pegasus [slashdot.org]

• The Saros [slashdot.org] number [nasa.gov] of the solar eclipse [slashdot.org] series which began on -2022 [slashdot.org] March 29 [slashdot.org] and ended on -724 [slashdot.org] May 17 [slashdot.org]. The duration of Saros series 26 was 1298.1 years, and it contained 73 solar eclipses.

• The Saros number [nasa.gov] of the lunar eclipse [slashdot.org] series which began on -1937 [slashdot.org] August 28 [slashdot.org] and ended on -386 [slashdot.org] March 17 [slashdot.org]

Re:Linus...

[Anonymous Coward]

Score: two weeks of comment window, 5 is too hard to remember.

Re:Excellent notion

[KlaymenDK]

Anyone who has problems with "large numbers such as 26" probably shouldn't be doing kernel coding ... just sayin' ;-)

Re:Linus...

[sfraggle]

You're ... correct ... Linus ... must be stopped ... Mr Spock ... lock phasers on kernel.org ... NOW MISTER!

Re:Excellent notion

[h4rm0ny]

Oh please! Nobody in a position to be making decisions based on kernel version should be put off by a number like 2.6.26. Can you honestly see a PHB in ever being allowed by the developers to be in a position to say, "No, I don't think we should go with this kernel, lets go with another one." The closest anyone who would be bothered by "2.6.26" gets to making this decision is saying "We will use that one called Hairy Hardon - I like the sound of that one." Kernel versions are off the radar as far as marketing goes.

Re:A suggestion

[bigstrat2003]

If Windows had a kernel numbered 1.33.7 with a beta name of "Loopy Longhorn", would it be a better finished product?

The obvious answer is yes. It'd be 1337, of course it'd be better!

Dang!

[certain death]

_I_ _Really_ _hate_ reading Linus' _email_ with all _his_ _underlining_ for emphasis!!!_-_-_-_ _REALLY_!

Version 2.6.26?

[pr0nbot]

Can anyone help? I installed the 2.6.26 kernel on my pentium, but it keeps saying I have version 2.6.25999999999993 installed?

Aww... and I was looking forward to kernel2k......

[morgauo]

(news report sometime around the year 2500) People everywhere are stocking up on food, water and buying up home generators. No one is sure what will happen with the next kernel release, now that the version number 2.6.~ will no longer fit with in the ~ byte memory space where it is stored in most computers. Experts are unsure exactly what will happen but some of the things which may stop working include the electric grid, airplanes and automated teller machines. On the plus side, computer technicians are finding it easier than ever to acquire jobs as companies scramble to switch to Mac OS XXX which though it is otherwise inferior has avoided this problem by incrementing it's major version number. Let's go live to the street and see what people have to say. Some random person: Well... I'm just about done, I have a month's supply of food, a generator and duck tape. I had to take out a second mortgage. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the gas. It almost cleaned me out just getting here. I sure hope they come out with that biofuel stuff soon. I'm glad those flying cars never took off though, Windows crashed my engine 3 times just on the way to the store. It's a good thing I wasn't in the air!

Re:Linus...

[Random BedHead Ed]

Remind me, it's the odd ones that are good and the even ones that are bad, just like the Star Trek movies? Or is it the other way round?

Not even close, dude. The even ones are good with Star Trek and Linux. The odd ones are good with Indiana Jones and KDE.*

* Yes, I know latest even KDE will improve quickly.

Re:A suggestion

[fatboy]

What has the kernel to do with printer drivers? It has always been CUPS domain.

Back in my day, used lpd, AND WE LIKED IT!

Re:Linus...

[Kamineko]

To summarise: there's no drivers.

More marketeering

[Mr. Underbridge]

No, what is hurting Linux is that numbering is way to geeky. The next version shouldn't be 2.6.X. For more widespread adoption, we might try cutesy names like Fluffy Rabbit to attract more females and kids. Or for professional sounding names like Tranquil. Of even more generic like Balls. That would be hilarious in everyday conversation. "Today I installed a new set of Balls at work." Hey why is everyone leaving? Hello, is anyone out there?

Man, you totally forgot the logo. That damned penguin is way too threatening and doesn't make any sort of political message. What we need there is a stylized picture of a group of hippies standing in a circle holding hands. Also, we need more than new version names, we need a new name, period. Stop calling it Linux because that doesn't mean shit. What we need is to find some vaguely positive word, translate it into a language used in some third-world nation, and use that for the name. What the hell is the Sanskrit word for "awareness", or some shit like that? Can we use that for the name of our OS?

correcting this for you...

[Anonymous Coward]

_O_
    |
_/|\_
me

Huh

[badpazzword]

Just roll three d20's.

Re:Excellent notion

[Opyros]

Kernel hackers from my culture can only count "1-4, 5-6, many", you insensitive clod!

Re:correcting this for you...

[spectre_240sx]

You might want to get that looked at. It could be malignant.

Re:A suggestion

[manifoldronin]

If Windows had a kernel numbered 1.33.7 with a beta name of "Loopy Longhorn", would it be a better finished product?

But it would likely be perceived a better finished product.

Re:A suggestion

[Anonymous Coward]

If Windows had a kernel numbered 1.33.7 with a beta name of "Loopy Longhorn", would it be a better finished product?

I painted racing stripes on my car so it can go faster

Re:Why versioning based on features?

[bryce4president]

kernel x or if I need to update to kernel y

So you are a fan of letter based versioning then?

Re:A suggestion

[Fred_A]

Why bother with Linux?, get a proper OS.

But Netcraft said BSD was dead !