Linux 3.8-rc6 Kernel Is Bigger Than Linus Would Like

While flying over to Brussels for FOSDEM, Linus Torvalds released the sixth Linux 3.8 kernel RC. Unfortunately this weekly development release is larger than Linus would like for this late in the development cycle.

"I have to say, -rc6 is bigger than I'd like it to be. I'd really like things to calm down by rc6, because usually I aim for rc7 to be roughly the last rc in the series, and that means that I don't want to see hundreds of patches. But hundreds of patches it is. Not good," Linus Torvalds wrote for the 3.8-rc6 announcement.

Torvalds is hoping that 3.8-rc7 will be smaller, plus the fact that he's scuba diving next week and hopes not to be disturbed with patch bombs. He's only wanting fixes for "major security issues, big user-reported regressions, or nasty oopses." At least Linux 3.8-rc6 has the workaround for the Linux bug that can brick Samsung laptops. Aside from that notable fix, this week's kernel update is just scattered with various fixes/updates.

If you're not up to speed on this forthcoming major open-source kernel update, read the feature overview for the Linux 3.8 kernel.