Linux 6.1 release candidate 8, which is anticipated to be the final release candidate, was announced by Linus Torvalds. The eighth release candidate has fewer changes and is smaller than the previous release candidate.

Additionally, Torvalds stated that a number of pull requests have already been scheduled for the 6.2 merge window.

We are one week away from the final Linux kernel 6.1 release, which is expected to be the next long-term support kernel release. The eighth release candidate has been released. According to Linus Torvalds, the release is noticeably smaller than previous releases and has begun to settle down.

Small changes Torvalds stated in the release announcement that the most recent release candidate includes few changes that are dispersed throughout and do not particularly stand out. Additionally, according to Torvalds, a few pull requests have been scheduled for the Linux kernel 6.2 merge window. Linus Torvalds, the Linux kernel's creator, stated,

"So we’ve finally started calming down, and rc8 is noticeably smaller than previous release candidates.

So everything looks good, and while the calming down may have happened later than I wished for, it did happen. Let’s hope this upcoming week is as quiet (or quieter).

The changes here are few enough that scanning through the shortlog below should give you an idea of what’s been going on, but it’s basically small changes spread all over. Nothing particularly stands out to me.

I’m also happy to see that I already have a few pull requests scheduled for when the 6.2 merge window opens up, so some people are being proactive and want to have everything already lined up for a calm holiday season. Hint, hint"