Linux Kernel 6.19-rc2 released
Linus Torvalds dropped by with the second release candidate for the upcoming Linux Kernel 6.19 major version today. This isn't exactly surprising; RC2 usually means things are pretty calm behind the scenes, and it looks like this one fits that pattern.
The bulk of the changes involve self-tests being run and updating documentation. That's the kind of stuff that's expected when you're near a final release. But keep an eye out for some driver updates too; they cover roughly half the patches this time around.
Digging into those fixes, there are also architecture tweaks and improvements to filesystem handling. One particularly interesting bit deals with special files; patches here aim to prevent issues when these directories get moved during transactions.
And notably, one of the commits tackles a long-running problem from 6.18 specifically related to XFS_ERRTAG_FORCE_ZERO_RANGE for zoned systems, plus it adds validation for zone alignment on RT devices. Good stuff for those specific areas.
If you're following along closely (and maybe running into Linus' own code review backlog), you can find the full set of changes attached to his announcement post. Just remember, this is still a release candidate; things could still change!
Also, since it's around the holidays, Linus threw in some practical advice for developers: expect less time with testing duties coming up if people are taking breaks away from work. But don't just stop coding! He suggested keeping the rc cycle moving by running your own early testing whenever you can find a moment to spare. It makes sense they're relying on community help here.
More than 100 individuals contributed patches to this RC2, chipping in with fixes ranging from general file system health improvements to preventing corruption altogether.
Linux kernel 6.19-rc2 released
Linux kernel version 6.19-rc2 is now available:
Full source: https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/t/linux-6.19-rc2.tar.gz
Patch: https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/p/v6.19-rc2/v6.18
You can view the summary of the changes at the following URL:
https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/ds/v6.19-rc2/v6.18
