On January 19, 2025, Linus Torvalds released the Linux 6.13 kernel, which, while not a major upgrade, brings important improvements to performance, security, and hardware support. A key feature of this release is the introduction of lazy preemption support, which simplifies the kernel’s preemption logic and could enhance system responsiveness.
Lazy preemption aims to improve kernel scheduling by allowing the system to delay rescheduling tasks when necessary, leading to improved throughput for extended jobs. The new structure introduces a flag, TIF_NEED_RESCHED_LAZY, to indicate that rescheduling will occur, but not immediately. This flexibility enables better performance for long-running CPU tasks while maintaining responsiveness to quick events.
Additionally, the kernel includes support for AutoFDO (Automatic Feedback-Directed Optimization) and Propeller when compiling with the widely-used LLVM Clang compiler, offering faster build times for developers. The release also enhances hardware compatibility, bringing support for new AMD and Intel chipsets, including the AMD Ryzen X3D processor and Intel Xe3 graphics.
Another notable update involves enhanced support for older Apple devices, allowing Linux to run on several pre-M1 Apple System on Chips (SoCs), including A7 through A11. This change is particularly beneficial for developers interested in exploring Linux on legacy Apple hardware.
Further, Linux 6.13 includes the capability to run Linux in protected virtual machines on ARM Confidential Compute Architecture, addressing the needs for confidential computing on ARM systems.
Looking ahead, the focus is shifting toward the development of Linux 6.14, which is expected to enhance support for Rust programming in the kernel. For those eager to try the latest kernel, it can be downloaded from Torvalds’ git tree or the kernel.org website, though many users might prefer to wait for their distribution maintainers to include it in stable updates.
In a fun twist, Torvalds announced he would reward five random Linux kernel developers with handmade guitar effect pedals, expressing his enthusiasm for the building process, which he likens to "LEGO for grown-ups with a soldering iron.
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