Some excellent #Ubuntu themed updates over the past couple of days!

First, a write up of the progress on our TPM-backed full disk encryption efforts in preparation for the LTS release cycle: https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/tpm-fde-progress-for-ubuntu-25-10/65146.

I was also delighted to see our #kernel team step up their commitment on release cadence to get newer kernels shipped and tested faster in line with our new monthly snapshot releases: https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/kernel-development-release-cadence-and-deprecation-of-linux-modules-extra/65176.

And finally... the latest edition of the Ubuntu Server Gazette discussing software "freshness" and how to get an experience closer to that of a rolling release with Ubuntu: https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-server-gazette-issue-6-an-extra-fresh-rolling-ubuntu-please/65190

Enjoy!

Look like @torvalds might remove #bcachefs from the #Linux with version 6.17:

https://lore.kernel.org/all/CAHk-=wi+k8E4kWR8c-nREP0+EA4D+=rz5j0Hdk3N6cWgfE03-Q@mail.gmail.com/

'"I have pulled this, but also as per that discussion, I think we'll be parting ways in the 6.17 merge window."'

Backstory that triggered this can be found here:

https://lore.kernel.org/all/CAHk-=wi2ae794_MyuW1XJAR64RDkDLUsRHvSemuWAkO6T45=YA@mail.gmail.com/

To quote from there:

'"You seem to have forgotten what the point of the merge window was again.

We don't start adding new features just because you found other bugs.

[…]

Make the -rc fixes be pure fixes.

Linus"'

Very happy to announce my book The Linux Memory Manager is now available to pre-order at

https://nostarch.com/linux-memory-manager

It's a comprehensive 1,300 page exploration of how memory functions in Linux that goes into great depth on the subject, and is the first book of its kind for 20 years :)

#Linux 6.12 is out. For a list of new features see:

* This short LWN story: https://lwn.net/Articles/997958/ (screenshotted)

* Two detailed stories from LWN: https://lwn.net/Articles/990750/ & https://lwn.net/Articles/991301/

* The kernelnewbies page: https://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_6.12

See also the announcement from @torvalds:

https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/CAHk-=wgtGkHshfvaAe_O2ntnFBH3EprNk1juieLmjcF2HBwBgQ@mail.gmail.com/

'"No strange surprises this last week, so we're sticking to the regular release schedule, and that obviously means that the merge window opens tomorrow."'

Would you like to create #kernel SRPMs for #Fedora from arbitrary #Linux Git repositories? SRPMs that focus on just the core kernel, are close to the official Fedora kernel packages, and buildable via rpmbuild, mock, koji, or copr? Then I got something new for you:

"arkify", a script which allows exactly the above.

$ curl --silent 'https://gitlab.com/knurd42/linux/-/raw/arkify-arkify/arkify' | bash

Warning, it's still WIP.

For details, see: https://gitlab.com/knurd42/linux/-/blob/arkify-arkify/README.md

Inside the Linux Kernel: Architecture and a Guide to Contributing

The Linux kernel, the core component of all Linux-based operating systems, manages hardware, processes, memory, and security, acting as a bridge between applications and underlying hardware.
This is a guide on how to contribute and its architecture.

Read More: https://machaddr.substack.com/p/inside-the-linux-kernel-architecture

I fully understand why #Linux mainline developers do not have to care about stable #kernel maintenance (IOW: backporting to earlier, still supported series) at all.

And I'm mostly fine with it. But I think it's wrong when it comes to recent mainline regressions that bother users.

Especially when they cause severe damage like disk corruption (as seen by multiple reporters), as it this case:

https://lore.kernel.org/all/20241003160454.3017229-1-Basavaraj.Natikar@amd.com/

Backstory: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=219331 & https://lore.kernel.org/all/90f6ee64-df5e-43b2-ad04-fa3a35efc1d5@leemhuis.info/

My rewrite of the brief text about bisecting #Linux regressions was merged[1] for #kernel 6.12 and thus is now available in rendered form here:

https://docs.kernel.org/admin-guide/bug-bisect.html

Thx to @ptesarik, @corbet, and everybody else that helped, much appreciated!

[1] https://git.kernel.org/linus/cbbdb6c625f6415c30f5dbc9305f1d2d5b79b02f #LinuxKernel

Stumbled onto https://www.kernelconfig.io from @kernelconfig:

From a quick look it seems to be LKDDb (#Linux #Kernel Driver DataBase) with a nicer Web UI and a few other differences -- some of which might be nice to have.

The two screenshots below compare https://www.kernelconfig.io/CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT and https://cateee.net/lkddb/web-lkddb/PREEMPT_RT.html

#Linux 3.0[1] was released more than 13 years ago, but we still have a few subsystem development trees around that have a "2.6" in their name…

https://lore.kernel.org/all/CAH2r5muENv0sQ0%2BQ6xtDA-ThVu8B1W9%3D3-Yy0nOhX3onVVUXFA@mail.gmail.com/

[1] which ended the 2.6.y series, which had lasted from Dec 2003 till May 2011

The #Linux 6.12 pull request for #PREEMPT_RT is handed to Linus. Likely the first PR ever submitted in printed form. #kernel #LinuxKernel #Realtime

kangrejos in copenhagen was great, but the absolute moment was when I learned that GFP_ stands for get_free_pages

I had no idea. and @gregkh next to me had the same https://xkcd.com/1053/ experience

Is there anything you would like to ask the #Linux Foundation's TAB (Technical Advisory Board)?

Then come to the "ask us anything" session with the current TAB at the @linuxplumbersconf 2024, which is currently scheduled for 9:00 on Friday, September 20[1].

And if you can't be there, just tell me your questions: I'll try to bring a few of them forward if I get a chance.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/87zforv3zc.fsf@trenco.lwn.net/

KSNav is a Kernel Static-Analysis Navigator that's using #radare2 under the hood from the r2pipe-go API and will be soon presented at #osseu2024 #kernel #r2pipe

* OpenSourceSummitEurope https://osseu2024.sched.com/event/1ejJ1/enhancing-kernel-functional-safety-analysis-with-ks-nav-alessandro-carminati-gabriele-paoloni-red-hat
* r2tool.go https://github.com/elisa-tech/ks-nav/blob/main/kern_bin_db/r2tool.go

I'd really like to read a well researched article that sums up how Linux distros reacted to the massive influx of #Linux #kernel CVE that started ~half a year – both for their #LinuxKernel packages and their live-patching offerings.

But I guess that is an enormous amount of work that no media outlet in this world is willing to pay anyone for writing.

Slide taken from @gregkh's "Why are there so many kernel CVEs?" talk he gave at OSS China yesterday (https://social.kernel.org/objects/c9979d9f-399f-428b-ac56-c41598076dfa ) #LinuxKernel

Guys, Lets be real!!

C++ is the best thing ever created.
Change my mind!!!

#github #c #c++ #programming #languages #coding #kernel