Linux 6.11 Released

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Notable 6.11 / 6.12 Features and Expectations

  • Highlighted 6.11 changes: Rust block driver support and atomic write support in the block layer are viewed as major steps.
  • Looking ahead to 6.12, several commenters expect PREEMPT_RT to finally land for x86/ARM/RISC‑V, citing recent Kconfig patches; some see this as especially valuable for audio/video and desktop use.

Kernel Versioning Philosophy

  • Some criticize Linux’s major/minor numbering as arbitrary and browser‑like “just increment”, despite resembling semantic versioning.
  • Others defend the approach, noting maintainers explicitly avoid feature-based “big” releases so no version is over-emphasized.
  • Alternative schemes (year-based like “2024.1” or a single ever‑increasing number) are suggested but not agreed upon.

Stability Regressions in 6.10 (Especially AMDGPU)

  • Many reports of serious regressions in 6.10.x: amdgpu crashes, artifacts, broken suspend, broken eGPU setups, problematic gaming/Proton systems, and Bluetooth/audio issues.
  • Some users downgraded to earlier kernels (e.g., 6.8/6.9 or LTS) or even switched to Windows.
  • A few users report smooth experiences with AMD hardware on 6.10.x or after specific point releases/firmware updates.
  • Consensus: issues are highly hardware‑specific; amdgpu is a frequent pain point.

Testing and Continuous Integration

  • Question raised: how is Linux tested without a single central CI?
  • Responses mention large automated board farms and projects like kernelci, LKFT, Intel/Collabora labs.
  • Despite “gigantic” test setups, gaps remain—especially for desktop‑style GPU/multimedia workloads.

Suspend-to-RAM and Laptop Support

  • Mixed experiences: some laptops (especially ThinkPads) suspend reliably; others depend heavily on specific generations and whether they support “real” S3 vs s2idle.
  • Hardware vendors increasingly dropping S3 is seen as a larger problem than the kernel itself.

Distribution Practices and Rollbacks

  • Ubuntu is criticized for pushing new kernels late in the release cycle, then freezing and not fixing resulting breakage.
  • Immutable/rollback‑friendly distros (e.g., image-based or snapshot-based) are praised for making “bleeding edge” safer.

Torvalds’ Role and Succession

  • Commenters note that the lead maintainer still writes release notes and commits.
  • Some express concern about long‑term succession and the risk of future “kernel throne wars,” though others point out that GPL licensing allows forks.

Linux on Smartphones

  • Desire expressed for “real” GNU/Linux phones that install as easily as desktop distros.
  • Others argue this is niche demand and note severe obstacles: undocumented phone hardware, non-standard boot/ACPI equivalents, and vendor hostility, leading to projects like PinePhone/Fairphone facing long delays and partial support.