Canonical recently announced a significant policy change regarding Linux adoption in the Ubuntu operating system. The Canonical Kernel Team (CKT), responsible for handling kernel-related issues for any Ubuntu release, will soon begin integrating the latest version of the Linux kernel, even if there is no final stable build out in the wild yet.
As the British company explains, Ubuntu follows a strict, time-based release schedule. Release dates are set six months in advance, and only in “extreme” circumstances can a delay occur. The most recent long-term support version of Ubuntu, 24.04 “Noble Numbat,” was released in April 2024.
Meanwhile, developers working on the Linux kernel follow a “loosely time-based release process,” with a new major kernel release occurring every two to three months. The actual release date for each new version is described as “fluid,” meaning that project leader Linus Torvalds may adjust the upstream development process if a significant bug is discovered.
The time between “start integrating” for an Ubuntu release and the actual Ubuntu release, is typically a full kernel release cycle IIRC. It takes months before it is actually released. Once it’s in your daily driver, it won’t be a release candidate kernel anymore.
Not supporting a newly bought modern computer out of the box is pretty bad for an OS that claims to be accessible and easy to use. So I understand the shift.
I trust their testing process is adequate to ensure stability at release.
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