Linux Kernel to Reach Version 3.0 with Next Release

In a bit of news that even Linux geeks will have a hard time getting excited over, Linus Torvalds has confirmed that the next release of the Linux kernel will be called 3.0. It didn’t take long after 2.6.39’s release when Linus began juggling the idea of calling the next release 3.0, and it took even less time for him to go all “alpha-male” and finalize the decision. In his words, “You’ll like it.”

There have been rumors that 3.0 would be a complete refresh of the kernel and give the developers an opportunity to cut off some aging slack, but with the next release set to be 3.0, it doesn’t seem likely to happen. And in fact, there’s little to get excited over with 3.0, because according to Linus, it’s just going to be a regular progressive release. There will be new features, but none that would be deserving of the typical major version bump.

That being the case, compiling the 3.0 kernel should be no different than compiling a current kernel, but given the major number change, it could potentially cause issues with some software or drivers that rely on the 2.6 nomenclature to either compile or install. Actively updated software should have no problem here, and we hope that if there does stand a chance of issue with a piece of software, developers will take advantage of the time leading up until the 3.0 launch to prepare their software for the change.

The 3.0 kernel itself might not experience an onslaught of new features, but the version bump is still a welcomed one. The 2.6 kernel has been developed for over seven years, so the switch to 3.0 could instill a better sense of modernism, and help better give Linux the credit it deserves as being a cutting-edge OS.

The date for the launch of the 3.0 kernel hasn’t been announced, but in line with the current release schedule, we should be able to expect it within the next four – six months.

I decided to just bite the bullet, and call the next version 3.0. It will get released close enough to the 20-year mark, which is excuse enough for me, although honestly, the real reason is just that I can no longer comfortably count as high as 40.