Sched_ext Merged For Linux 6.12 - Scheduling Policies As BPF Programs

Linux 6.12 is shaping up to be a heck of a kernel update! Following real-time "PREEMPT_RT" going mainline after twenty years and many other kernel features merged this week, Linus Torvalds just pulled in the much anticipated sched_ext code!

The sched_ext code for extensible scheduler behavior by allowing scheduling policies to be implemented as BPF programs has been merged. Sched_ext was planning to merge it for Linux 6.11 but that didn't end up happening. Earlier in the week necessary scheduler changes were made and that paved the way for sched_ext being merged today.

Sched_ext has seen much interest and usage already within patched kernels for its long out-of-tree state. Sched_ext can allow for some quite innovative scheduling scenarios from gaming to other scenarios.

With much delight, a few minutes ago sched_ext was merged. The committed documentation provides more insight for those interested in the sched_ext prospects.

Also merged today were the BPF updates for Linux 6.12.