Why Linux Skipped 5.20 for 6.0 – Major Updates and Hidden Details

On August 14, 2022 Linus Torvalds announced the first release candidate (RC1) of Linux 6.0. He joked that some Chinese developers preferred the nickname “5.20,” but emphasized that version numbers are essentially arbitrary.

What are the major updates?

Linux 6.0 adds over one million new lines of code, the largest code change in a single cycle. While it does not introduce radical architectural changes, it brings many useful improvements:

Support for new AMD GPUs and automatically generated Intel Habana Labs Gaudi2 headers.

RISC‑V architecture support.

Enhanced handling of Docker containers and better integration with Ubuntu’s Snap packaging.

Improvements to page‑based memory types.

The release also includes support for Intel’s new Gaudi2 accelerator aimed at accelerating TensorFlow workloads, as well as ACPI and power‑management enhancements for Intel “Sapphire Rapids” Xeon CPUs and AMD Ryzen 6000 laptops. These changes benefit devices such as Microsoft Surface and AMD‑driven ThinkPad laptops.

Many Linux enthusiasts report noticeable performance gains on high‑end Intel Xeon, AMD EPYC, and AMD Threadripper servers.

Linus noted that the Rust for Linux patches were not merged in this cycle and may appear later. Other features like MGLRU, Maple Tree, and the PREEMPT_RT real‑time patch are also pending.

To check your current kernel version, run: uname -r Typical output looks like: 5.18.0-134.el9.x86_64 The first number (5) is the major version, the second (18) the minor release, and the third (134) the patch level. Linus has previously indicated a desire to move away from the 5.x series due to large sub‑version numbers, favoring a shift to 6.x.

Although the kernel version number is largely symbolic, it helps avoid the perception of overly large version jumps.

Linux 6.0’s Rust patches are still pending, and Linus mentioned recent kernel crashes linked to VirtIO merges that are being addressed.

In the coming months the kernel will stabilize, and early testing shows both functional and performance improvements.

Reference links:

Linux Kernel 6.0 is Likely the Next Version Upgrade With Initial Rust Code – https://news.itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-6-0-reveal/

Linux 6.0 debuts, missing some Rusty bits and a magic mushroom reference – https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/15/linux_60_debuts_missing_some/