The Linux kernel of 2020 has seen many new features added and other enhanced features, while continuing to keep up with new point-to-point hardware support.
For a look back at the big kernel changes in the last year, for some New Year’s reading / entertainment, below is a look back at the most popular news about the Linux kernel.
The AMD Radeon graphics driver represents approximately 10.5% of the Linux kernel
Given the imminent release of Linux 5.9, I had a blast today, looking at the current code counting lines for this near-final Linux 5.9 kernel state.
Linus Torvalds has just done a lot of optimization to help compile time codes on large processors
For those who use GNU Make especially as a build system, parallel build times are about to be much faster starting with Linux 5.6 for large kernel counting systems. This landing right after the release of the AMD Threadripper 3990X 64-core / 128-thread processor is an example of a system that benefits from this kernel change when you compile a lot of code and use a lot of GNU Make jobs.
Torvalds’ Comments on Linux Developer Issues: “Pure Trash”
As you remember a few days ago, there was information about the Linux kernel programmer that was causing problems for Google Stage game developers. The scheduler was to blame and especially the Linux crashes. Linus Torvalds has now commented on this issue.
Linus Torvalds does not recommend using ZFS on Linux
Linux kernel creator Linus Torvalds does not recommend using ZFS on Linux at least until Oracle re-licenses the code to make it user-friendly for the main inclusion. But even then it doesn’t seem to be enabled by ZFS features or overall performance.
Google publishes the latest Linux Core programming patches so that only trusted tasks share a kernel
Google engineer Joel Fernandes has released the new version of their “core programming” patches for the Linux kernel, which only allows trusted tasks to run on the same CPU core at the same time – in cases where Hyper Threading is involved to protect the system against possible security exploits.
The new Microsoft exFAT file system driver is set to land with Linux 5.7
Linux 5.4 brought a preliminary Microsoft exFAT file system driver after Microsoft released the exFAT specification and encouraged support for Linux. But with the Linux 5.7 kernel this spring, it will land a new exFAT file system driver, which is a much improved version of the previous code.
Torvalds blasts “Beyond Nonsense” washing L1d on context switches – Code returns for now
As part of the initial set of changes combined today for Linux 5.8 was the x86 / mm material that included the controversial feature of the opt-in wash of the L1 data cache when switching context. Linus Torvalds decided to give up this functionality, because at least now he considers it crazy.
Linux 5.8 Set to optionally clear the L1d cache on the context switch to increase security
Linux kernel patches that were driven by Amazon AWS engineers to optionally clear the L1 data cache on each context switch were now expected in the x86 / mm branch before the next Linux 5.8 kernel cycle.
XFS File System with Linux 5.10 Points Year 2038 Issue 2486
Not only does Btrfs see noticeable improvements with the Linux 5.10 kernel in development, but the XFS file system also has some prominent changes.
The Linux Kernel Developer is apparently causing problems for Google Stage game developers
Among the problems faced by game developers in bringing their games to Linux for the cloud gaming service Google Stadia, apparently come from problems related to kernel programming. We knew that the Linux kernel programmer could use some improvements, and independent developers like Con Kolivas with BFS / MuQSS have done this, but we hope that in 2020 we will see a real action.
Linux kernel enters 27.8 million lines in Git in 2020, but with fewer developers for 2019
This morning, in the source tree of the Linux Git kernel, the kernel weighs 27.8 million lines!
Linus Torvalds’ initial comment on the prospects of the Linux kernel rust code
Kernel developers seem eager to debate the merits of potentially enabling Rust code in the Linux kernel. Linus Torvalds himself made some initial remarks on this subject before the Linux Plumbers 2020 conference, where the issue will be discussed at length.
The Linux kernel depreciates the 80-character line encoding style
The Linux kernel has officially depreciated its coding style, according to which the length of the lines of code respects 80 columns as the “preferred strong limit”.
Former Linux developer Hans Reiser will remain stuck
It’s hard to believe that former Linux developer Hans Reiser was already eligible for conditioning, but was turned down this month. The former developer responsible for creating the promising ReiserFS and Reiser4 file systems will remain locked for at least another three years.
Cachy is the latest effort to provide a better Linux CPU programmer
Cachy is a Linux processing programmer that has generated attention in the last month, which aims to make optimal use of the processor cache and is based on a Highest Response Ration Next (HRRN) policy.
Linux will begin to strengthen the ability to write to the MSR CPU in the user space
The Linux 5.9 kernel is scheduled to begin introducing new write permissions restrictions on CPU-specific registers (MSR) in the user space.
Linux 5.6 shows that it will be spectacular, with a long list of features
Linux 5.5 is likely to be released later today and with it there are many new features. But as soon as 5.5 is released, it marks the opening of the Linux 5.6 merge window and this next kernel makes us especially interesting … It is definitely forming to be one of the most interesting kernel cycles of recent times, with many features and blockbuster enhancements. .
Linux patch proposed to double the transfer speed of Raspberry Pi 4 to eMMC / SD storage
Manjaro Linux developer Tobias Schramm has revealed that only one data rate is currently used for micro SD cards and eMMC storage with Raspberry Pi 4 Model B SBCs. But with a two-line kernel patch, dual data speed mode can be activated.
Linux developers can discuss Allowing Rust Code in the Kernel
A Google engineer is looking to discuss at this year’s Linux Installers Conference the possibility of enabling Rust language support in the tree.
The namespace of the time seems to be finally on the deck for the main Linux kernel
In 2018, a namespace was proposed for the Linux kernel and now in 2020 it looks like this kernel functionality will be combined for the main line, probably with the future Linux 5.6 cycle.
Western Digital proposes the Zonefs file system for Linux 5.6
One of the last features that arrived today for Linux 5.6 before closing the merge window is Western Digital’s Zonefs file system.
Linux 5.9 brings protection measures after NVIDIA’s recent “GPL Condom” incident
As a result of recent discussions about NVIDIA NetGPU code that relied on another shim for the interface between NVIDIA’s proprietary driver and open-source kernel code, a new patch is about Linux 5.9 to fight these efforts.
Btrfs Async Discard support seems to be ready for Linux 5.6
After several months of work by Facebook engineers, it seems that the new async scard support for Btrfs is ready for the next Linux 5.6 cycle, as a victory for this Linux file system on solid state storage, using TRIM / DISCARD functionality.
Linux 5.5 Ready to Shine with Navi Overclocking, Raspberry Pi 4 Support, Wake-On-Voice
Everything is in line with the fact that the Linux 5.5 kernel is likely to be released next Sunday, rather than being pushed for another week of testing.
Thanks Oracle! New pending patches may reduce Linux boot time by up to ~ 49%
While many are not looking forward to Oracle’s open-source software contributions, some new patches offered by their team can dramatically benefit the Linux kernel’s boot time and work to get it upstream. The numbers are already very promising and other work is underway to make the improvement even more attractive.
The FAT file system driver for Linux sees the Patch to run several times faster
At the same time, when Linux receives a new exFAT driver, the Linux kernel still sees improvements to its classic FAT file system code.
Kernel developers work to block NVIDIA’s “GPL condom” effort around new NetGPU code
Linux kernel developers are working to tighten access around GPL-only kernel symbols and kernel shims that interact with proprietary kernel modules. This latest work is driven by the recently released code for improving Linux network code, where NVIDIA’s own kernel driver would be the original consumer.
Red Hat Vs. SUSE Vs. Canonical contributions to the main Linux kernel in 2010
After last week’s review of AMD / Intel / NVIDIA’s contributions to the main Linux kernel in recent years, there have been requests from readers to see how some of the top distributions compare, namely Red Hat, SUSE, and Canonical.
Linux 5.6 is the first kernel for 32-bit systems ready to run last year 2038
In addition to all the spectacular work that comes with Linux 5.6, here’s another big improvement that has gone under my radar to this day: Linux 5.6 is scheduled to be the first main kernel ready for 32-bit systems to run after 2038!
New Linux system call proposed to allow the user space to be fixed on specific CPU cores
A “pin_on_cpu” system call has been proposed for the Linux kernel as a new way to allow user space threads to attach to specific CPU cores.