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Facts and figures about the latest versions of the Linux kernel

Linux
version		 number
of files1		 lines of
source code2		 development
time		 number of
commits3		 diffstat4
2.6.20 21280 8102486
(7400843)		 66 days 4768 5825 files changed,
 262475 insertions(+),
 136162 deletions(-)
2.6.21 21614 8246470
(7522286)		 80 days 5016 6568 files changed,
 319232 insertions(+),
 175247 deletions(-)
2.6.22 22411 8499363
(7744727)		 74 days 6526 7620 files changed,
 519591 insertions(+),
 266699 deletions(-)
2.6.23 22530 8566554
(7818168)		 93 days 6662 7203 files changed,
 406268 insertions(+),
 339071 deletions(-)
2.6.24 23062 8859629
(8082358)		 107 days 9836 10209 files changed,
 776107 insertions(+),
 483031 deletions(-)
2.6.25 23810 9232484
(8396250)		 83 days 12243 9738 files changed,
 777371 insertions(+),
 404514 deletions(-)
2.6.26 24270 9411724
(8535933)		 88 days 9941 8676 files changed,
 595393 insertions(+),
 416143 deletions(-)
2.6.27 24354 9709868
(8690888)		 88 days 10628 15127 files changed,
 1131171 insertions(+),
 912939 deletions(-)
1 find . -type f -not -regex '\./\.git/.*' | wc -l
2 find . -type f -not -regex '\./\.git.*' | xargs cat | wc -l (find . -name *.[hcS] -not -regex '\./\.git.*' | xargs cat | wc -l)
3 git-log --no-merges --pretty=oneline v2.6.(x-1)..v2.6.(x) | wc -l
4 ;git diff --shortstat v2.6.(x-1)..v2.6.(x)

Summary of 2.6.27

Linux 2.6.27 once again offers a wealth of new features which often also benefit 'normal' Linux users who don't (want to) get involved in the kernel details. Especially on Centrino 2 notebooks and the numerous new netbooks introduced in the past few months, the latest version of the Linux kernel with its new and improved Wi-Fi drivers and other changes should run considerably smoother than its predecessors; however, the new kernel also offers many interesting new features for a variety of other systems.

Those who want to install the 2.6.27 kernel on their systems without much ado are advised to wait a little and then switch to the new versions of OpenSuse or Ubuntu expected for release in the coming weeks and months – these will include the new kernel and already offer a preview of 2.6.27 in their development branches and the current pre-release distribution versions which already come with pre-release versions of 2.6.27. The Fedora Project also uses such a version in its development branch and in the current pre-release versions of Fedora 10; however, Fedora 9 is likely to receive the newly introduced Linux version as an update before the final release of Fedora 10.

Kernel trends: Outlook on 2.6.28

Immediately after the release of 2.6.27 is when the first phase in the Linux kernel's new development cycle begins. This phase is called the merge window and usually lasts about two weeks during which Linus Torvalds incorporates the extensive changes for the next version into the main development branch. Already lined up for inclusion are, for example, numerous patches which will allow even more drivers – among them many SCSI drivers – to access the firmware loader for retrieving the firmware binaries.

Development cycle of the Linux kernel [...] The open development process (and a deep gaze into the tea leaves) makes it possible for heise online, like the Linux Weather Forecast, a "radar screen" maintained by the Linux Foundation, to make an educated guess about what new features are in store in the next kernel version.

The network developers have prepared four new drivers for inclusion in 2.6.28. These provide support for networking chips by Atheros, Cisco, Jmicron and Qlogic. Intel developer Arjan van de Ven has various improvements to speed up the startup process and lower power consumption up his sleeve.

Some developers would like to see the AXFS file system in 2.6.28 – however, currently it seems as if AXFS needs to pass through another few cycles of the rather strict monitoring and improvement process required for new file systems before they are integrated, which makes its inclusion in 2.6.29 rather unlikely. The same applies to the support for running the kernel as a privileged Xen domain (Dom0), unless the Xen developers put their shoulders to the wheel in a major way in the next few days. Not even remotely applicable in practice are the improvements to the rt2x00 drivers currently under development to allow these drivers to address Ralink's recent rt2860 and rt2870 Wi-Fi chips – Linus Torvalds himself requested these changes after having purchased an Asus EeePC equipped with such a Ralink chip a few weeks ago. Until the drivers are ready, the Wi-Fi chips can be persuaded to co-operate under Linux using GPL2 licensed drivers supplied by the vendor.

As usual, heise online UK will report in the coming weeks on the most important new features integrated into the Linux main development line and other developments in the Linux kernel. Among these are the new versions of the (2.6.x.y) stable kernel series, which usually correct some error or other that kernel hackers and testers failed to catch in developing 2.6.27. Around Christmas or early in the new year, Linus Torvalds is expected to release Linux version 2.6.28, whose changes will again be discussed in detail in an extensive kernel log similar to this one at heise online uk.

(thl/c't)

Appendix:

List of further changes to the infrastructure

List of further changes to drivers and their surrounding infrastructures

Next: Appendix, further changes to the infrastructure

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