Linus Torvalds has announced the availability of the first Release Candidate (RC) for the highly anticipated Linux kernel 6.13. This preliminary release marks the beginning of the testing phase for the next iteration of the operating system, showcasing significant updates in hardware support and performance optimizations.
The announcement comes two weeks after the merge window for Linux 6.13 opened, coinciding with the release of Linux 6.12. Advanced users and developers can download RC1 from Torvalds’ Git repository or the official kernel.org website.
Key Features of Linux 6.13
Among the most notable updates in Linux 6.13 are enhancements in virtualization, hardware support, and system performance:
- Protected Virtualization with ARM CCA: Adds support for running Linux in “realm” protected virtual machines under the ARM CCA architecture.
- Guarded Control Stack (GCS): Introduces a new feature to enhance user-space application security and control.
- Optimizations for Intel and AMD: Includes support for 6-node sub-NUMA clusters on Intel processors and sets the
amd-pstatedriver as default for newer AMD EPYC CPUs. - File System Enhancements: Significant improvements for Btrfs, EXT4, FUSE, F2FS, and exFAT. For example, Btrfs reduces lock contention, while FUSE allows configuration of maximum request sizes via sysctl.
- Expanded Hardware Support: Adds compatibility for devices like Vexia EDU ATLA 10 and Surface Pro 9 5G tablets, Adreno A663 graphics, Realtek RT721 audio chips, and additional drivers for Intel Panther Lake processors.
Innovations in Systems and Optimization
Linux 6.13 introduces the “Lazy preemption” model for x86, RISC-V, and LoongArch architectures, optimizing fair-class preemption by deferring requests to the next tick. It also supports superpages in the V3D driver and enables real-time computing for LoongArch. Additionally, improvements for qspinlock in RISC-V systems have been implemented.
Expected Final Release Date
The final release of Linux 6.13 is anticipated by late January 2025, depending on how many Release Candidates Torvalds publishes. If there are seven RCs, the kernel is expected to launch on January 19; if there are eight, the release date will shift to January 26.
Commenting on the development schedule, Linus Torvalds remarked, “For the first time, it seems the release cycle won’t overlap with the holiday season, giving us time to stabilize this release and start working on Linux 6.14 at a more relaxed pace.”
Open Testing for the Community
As always, Torvalds encourages the community to download and test this first RC. Early testing is critical to identifying bugs, optimizing performance, and ensuring Linux 6.13 meets the expectations of both developers and users.
With each iteration, the Linux kernel continues to be a cornerstone of technological evolution, delivering support for cutting-edge hardware, improving security and performance, and maintaining compatibility with legacy devices. This cycle is no exception.
