The new Linux kernel series has finally been released. The Linux 5.0 kernel series is now available to everyone as Linus Torvalds today launches a new development cycle while releasing the first kernel final release.
The development cycle of the new Linux kernel 5.0 series started two months ago, during which seven RCs were published (Release Candidate) for testing paving the way for this release change.
This change from 4 to 5 does not mean anything except the fact that Linux 5.x is the latest version of 4.x.
“The overall changes for all 5.0 releases will be large, but I'd like to point out (again) that the functions of the 5.0 kernel will have nothing more than the 4.x versions that have started to grow in number and we can't count them on the fingers and toes," said Linus Torvalds in an announcement on mailing list.
The overall changes for all of the 5.0 release are much bigger. But I'd like to point out (yet again) that we don't do feature-based releases, and that “5.0” doesn't mean anything more than that the 4.x numbers started getting big enough that I ran out of fingers and toes
Note that although the change in version number does not mean anything, the Linux 5.0 kernel introduces some interesting characteristics, such as FreeSync support on AMDGPU open-source graphics driver.
The Linux 5.0 kernel also brings a new feature energy planning for improved energy management devices using ARM big.LITTLE CPUs, support Adiantum file system encryption in fscrypt and support for swap files in file systems Btrfs.
Of course, too many drivers have been updated, and new ones have been added. The Linux 5.0 kernel will be available for download shortly from kernel.org. We will see it very soon and in Cutting edge distributions like Arch Linux.
