Linus Torvalds has released Linux 6.14-rc1, marking the end of the merge window. This release, while smaller than usual, includes significant updates with over 10,000 commits, about 9,300 merges excluded. Nearly half of the changes are focused on driver updates, which play a key role in improving hardware support and performance.
Other changes include improvements across x86 architecture, file systems such as Btrfs and XFS, and enhanced networking capabilities like BPF and NFS updates. Security updates were also made to SELinux and other security modules. Torvalds noted the release was smaller due to the holiday season but expressed hope for smooth sailing during the stabilization phase.
Despite the reduced scale, this release highlights continued progress in Linux development. Notable improvements include updates to RISC-V and ARM architecture platforms, expanding hardware support. Contributions have come from numerous developers across different subsystems, contributing to the continued evolution of the kernel.
Linux 6.14-rc1 is now available for testing by developers and users, who can help fine-tune the kernel before the final version is released in late March 2025. As with previous releases, testing will be crucial in ironing out any issues before the official release.
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