Linus Torvalds has announced the release of Linux 6.14-rc4, marking a significant step towards the final stable version expected before the end of March. According to Torvalds, this update is “the right kind of boring,” with no major changes or significant issues to report.
A Smooth Release Without Surprises
In his statement, Torvalds emphasized that Linux 6.14-rc4 remains on track, with the usual driver fixes for GPUs, sound, NVMe, and other critical areas. Additionally, improvements have been made to filesystems like XFS, SMB, Netfs, and Cachefs, alongside core kernel and networking fixes.
Among the most notable changes, this update includes a new self-test, which, despite being the largest patch in this version, does not introduce any critical performance alterations.
Distributions Adopting Linux 6.14
This kernel version will be included in distributions such as Ubuntu 25.04 and Fedora 42, among others set to be released after March. The key enhancements in Linux 6.14 include kernel efficiency optimizations, broader hardware compatibility, and improvements in security and performance.
Key Fixes in Linux 6.14-rc4
Some of the most important fixes and improvements in this version include:
- Driver Fixes: Enhancements in GPU, sound, and NVMe storage support.
- Filesystem Optimizations: Improvements in XFS, SMB, and Netfs.
- Kernel and Networking Adjustments: Minor bug fixes in memory management and connectivity.
Notable contributors to this version include Aaron Kling, who addressed issues in the DRM driver for NVIDIA graphics cards, and Abel Wu, who worked on improving BPF stability.
Next Steps
With Linux 6.14 progressing towards its stable release, users and developers are encouraged to continue testing and reporting any issues. If development proceeds without setbacks, Linux 6.14 is set to become one of the most stable kernel versions in recent times, featuring important improvements without disruptive changes.
The kernel development process continues steadily, and all indications suggest that Linux 6.14 will arrive on schedule with a high level of stability.
vía: Lore kernel
