The Linux Kernel & Updates

Brickwizard

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Is it just me! back in the good old days [about 10 yrs ago] I seem to remember getting automatic updates to the kernel once or twice a year, over the last few months, I seem to be getting 1 or 2 a week . anyone else noticed this?
 


My average is about every 4 weeks or so currently, but others may have differing input.

I have to fly for my evening, but will look in tomorrow.

Cheers

Wiz
 
I got one today for LM20.1

That was the first for around 3 or 4 weeks

prior to that I was probably getting one a week for around 4 or 5 weeks

I guess it depends on how much of the code they screw up......and then have to release it again with a 'fix'

I always create a Timeshift snapshot before installing a new kernel
That way if the kernel is a dud, I am covered.
 
We get a new kernel release about every four weeks or so in PCLinuxOS as it's a semi rolling release.

There's a lot more bad stuff out there nowadays then back in the olden days. so more kernel releases are needed due to more bad guys doing bad guy stuff.

I'm currently using the long term kernel 5.10 xx without problems.

 
I seem to be getting 1 or 2 a week .
What seems to be standard for Mint 19.2 is about one every two weeks just going on my update history which doesn't correlate with when they actual end up in the update manager. Haven't really considered the number of kernel updates I receive. Oddly it is also the frequency of the complete update of the Brave web browser.
 
If you're using apt, there's a history of updates in /var/log/apt. It uses logrotate, so you'll need to check in the compressed history files to look for longer patterns.
 
Also you can view updates via the update manager.
I know how ro find my kernel and update info, i was just trying to see if anyone else had noticed there seems to be an increase in the number of updates
 
The first number denotes the kernel version.

The second number denotes the major revision of the kernel version

The third number indicates the minor revision of the kernel. It is only changed when new features or new drivers are added

The fourth number, if present, represents corrections, such as security patches and bug (i.e., error) fixes.

here is an example of a Canonical/Ubuntu Kernel

linux-image-5.4.0-73-generic_5.4.0.82_amd64.deb

So 5 is the main Kernel, 4 is the major revision of 5 the main kernel, 0 is the next minor update, 73 is the ABI number it is an ever increasing revision. It basically denotes how many uploads have been made for this kernel version

so basically Canonical/Ubuntu used kernel 5.4.0 and revised it 73 times since it began

Some problems with kernels are caused by bad drivers or bad code and the like or new drivers and patches get released - as more and more devices hit the market with ever changing hardware it is no wonder the updates are accelerating
 
as more and more devices hit the market with ever changing hardware it is no wonder the updates are accelerating

^ THIS!

Also, the kernel is now over a million LoC (Lines of Code). With that many LoC, and with the person-hours budgeted along with fiscal budgets, it's amazing that it works - not disappointing that it has bugs. The scale of the kernel project is huge.

I highly recommend folks sign up for the LKML, just so they can see the effort that goes into it.
 
increase in the number of updates
For me not really about on par for them and I just rechecked my history and it appears to be once a month. Not that the frequency of updates really bother me as I have other things that occupy my mind. I don't dread Linux updates as I did when updating in Vindows, as you didn't know whether it would work after the update.
 
@Nik-Ken-Bah ....my pet saying/phrase...
The emphasis in win 10 is to keep the os running and stable enough to start again tomorrow.....The emphasis in Linux is to look for something new to do.
 
The emphasis in win 10
Nah! I avoided that one like the plague. Win7 for me until it was about to be killed off and the reports that I was hearing from those that used Win10 and it being a load of crock was what made me make bite the bullet and go all out Linux and ain't a going back down into that black pit of an OS.
I love my autonomy with Linux.
 

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