- Linux 7.2-rc7 has been released by Linus Torvalds, marking it as the final release candidate before the stable version is expected next week.
- Torvalds noted that rc7 is unusually large due to a high volume of small fixes, primarily attributed to AI tools being used by developers.
- Despite the size of rc7, Torvalds stated that nothing looks scary and he expects a stable release next weekend.
- Following the stable release, developers will have a two-week merge window for new features before seven weeks of release candidate testing.
- The seventh release candidate includes significant technical adjustments, such as fixes for S/390 and zCrypt, and reinstatement of BTRFS fix-up worker infrastructure.
- Torvalds expressed that the larger size of release candidates has become the new normal, with AI agents finding bugs faster than humans can.
- Historically, larger release candidates would cause concern, but Torvalds has been more relaxed about this trend due to AI-driven bug reporting.
Linus Torvalds has released Linux 7.2-rc7, marking the final candidate before the anticipated stable release next weekend. This release candidate is notably large, attributed to a surge in bug fixes facilitated by AI tools, which Torvalds acknowledges as the 'new normal.'126
Torvalds expressed mixed feelings about the size of the release, stating, "I can't say that I'm exactly thrilled about the size of this all. But it is what it is: the new normal with a lot of fixes, many of them due to review by various AI tools." Despite the extensive changes, he reassured the community that "nothing looks particularly scary per se - it's just that there's a lot here."
The seventh release candidate includes significant technical adjustments, such as s390/zcrypt fixes, the reinstatement of btrfs fix-up worker infrastructure, and updates to netfilter ipset. Torvalds noted that while the size of the release candidate would have raised alarms in the past, the efficiency of AI in identifying bugs has made him more relaxed about the situation.5
He emphasized that the likelihood of a stable release next weekend is high, stating, "I would expect that to happen next weekend unless something really bad pops up." Version 7.2 will not be a long-term support release but will introduce significant features, including improved scheduling for GPUs and CPUs.
As the Linux community prepares for the stable release, developers will have a two-week window to merge new features before entering a seven-week testing phase for the next version.
“Torvalds noted the rc7 is the biggest by commit count in years, with fixes spanning s390/zcrypt, btrfs, and netfilter ipset. He said 'nothing looks particularly scary' and expects stable release next weekend unless something really bad pops up.”
Neowin
