It used to be that building the Linux kernel was not easy. Testing and debugging were even worse. Nowadays, it is reasonably easy to build a custom kernel and test or debug it using virtualization.

Linus Torvalds released the eighth release candidate (RC8) for the upcoming Linux Kernel version 6.19 on 1 February 2026.

For years, Torvalds has managed kernel versioning with a lighthearted logic: increase the major number only when he can no ...