Linus Torvalds, the initiator and manager of the Linux kernel, has been officially call the next version of Linux kernel as Linux 3. It was inaugurated by Linus in his post on the Linux Kernel Mailing List as quoted from Phoronix, Tuesday (31/05/2011).
"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". Linus Torvalds.
Figures 40 is referred to the latest Linux version of kernel that should touch the number 2.6.40. This change had previously been discussed Linus in the same mailing list.
As the main organizer linux kernel, Torvalds does seem to have some 'right prerogratif'. Included in this set a new numbering. But this time he was sure his decision will be welcomed by the community.
Unfortunately, said Torvalds, scripts and rules to the Makefile can not be arbitrarily dictated. As a result, the kernel is technically will have the names 3.0.0-RC1 (RC1 is a release candidate, because it is still not final). Torvalds says there's still time 6-7 weeks to perform cleaning and other scripts. Hence, in the final release of the Linux kernel that can be named 3.0.
Linus Torvalds was warned that Linux 3.0 does not have a massive change. "Nothing is broken, no new features are scary, there's no variety like that," he said. Since several years the Linux kernel releases have been made based on the time and not based on features. The reason for this change was considered more precise about timing, ie the 20 th anniversary.
Some things that will be included in Linux 3 among others, including statements to the ARM processor-based systems, improvements to the Virtual Machine to support Kinect (Microsoft Kinect Linux Driver).
"So be nice to me, and send me only really important fixes. And let's make sure we really make the next release not just an all new shiny number, but a good kernel too". Linus Torvalds.
You are great man, good job !