Gain Paolo Mureddu wrote:
Michael Scottaline wrote:
On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 17:56:58 -0500
Steven Pasternak <stevenp500@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> insightfully noted:
SP>How come the big popular kernels are even numbered minor releases?
SP>Kernel 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, and 2.6 are the only ones used. Why don't (or
SP>didn't) distros ship with 2.1, 2.3, and 2.5 kernels? I checked
debian,
SP>redhat, suse, and mandrake (with distrowatch.com) and all previous
SP>versions had the even kernels only. Thanks!
SP>-Steven
SP>
=====================
Odd numbers were (are) reserved for test, or development, releases.
Linus' decision, I believe.....
Mike
Yes, if I recall correctly, even numbers, though still improved, are
stable releases and may undergo minor testing of features, like the
current -rc# releases. I don't know at which point during 2.4 did
Linux moved into the 2.5 test branch, but I think he'll wait a little
bit longer with the current 2.6 releases before moving to 2.7 (I'm
pretty sure I read about this somewhere, but I can't remember if it
was on LJ or LM or on-line somewhere).
It was (most recently) in the latest issue of Linux Journal, which
arrived /Chez Moi/ earlier this week.
