Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Will Aim To Ship With The Linux 6.8 Kernel

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Will Aim To Ship With The Linux 6.8 Kernel

As some terrific news, Canonical laid out their kernel plans for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and they are being ambitious with plans to ship the in-development Linux 6.8 kernel as their default kernel on this next long-term support Ubuntu desktop/server distribution...

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Ubuntu-24.04-Will-Use-Linux-6.8

[avis]

6.8 is not an LTS kernel, why?

[Volta]

They should change their sub-optimal configuration, targeting neither desktops nor servers.

[Rovano]

Gradually, various optimizations for desktop and playing so that compatibility with older things does not break. Too bad I have no idea where to look for an overview.

[Kepsz]

Good. That means Ubuntu derivatives will also have fresh packages. In these years where gaming on Linux is a viable option, things like mesa 24 is a must-have thing

It is strange that so popular distros like Linux Mint still uses the 5.15 kernel on their main installer iso... Yes, they released an Edge iso recently, but I think you see my point.

[user1]

I guess the reason they now decided to go with the latest kernel instead of the latest LTS kernel like in the previous Ubuntu LTS releases, is because recently it was announced that LTS kernels would receive only 2 or 3 years of support instead of 6. Of course we don't no the exact reason, but I'm sure that the change in Linux LTS support cycle is at least a factor in this decision.

[skeevy420]

6.8 is not an LTS kernel, why?

We wonder this with damn near every single Ubuntu LTS release, but this time it actually makes a lot of sense because there have been some big changes between 6.6 and 6.8; bcachefs, open NVIDIA drivers, and more.

If I was in charge, either 6.5 or 6.8 would be the current LTS release. 6.6 being LTS is what happens when you follow release cadences religiously and without thought.

[oibaf]

Maybe official linux kernel should be LTS not the last of each year, but the first (or second) of each year. So distros could use a recent enough official LTS kernel.

[AkulaMD]

6.8 is not an LTS kernel, why?

My guess is because they can afford to, given the resources they have.

[Jumbotron]

My guess is because they can afford to, given the resources they have.

I think there is more than a kernel (see what I did there ) of truth to this. Canonical barely knows or cares that Linux Mint or the other hobby projects exist. They compete with Red Hat an Suse for big corporation and government contracts. And having a stable AND up to date kernel regardless of said kernel being officially an LTS version or not gives Canonical an edge over the other big rivals.