Re: On Linux numbering scheme

[Geert Uytterhoeven]

On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 09:31, Claudio Scordino <claudio@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Â As time passes by, the Linux numbering scheme makes even less sense.
>> Â Some time ago there was a discussion on LKML about a new numbering
>> Â scheme but it didn't come to any positive conclusion and then the
>> Â subject was forgotten entirely. Not meaning to raise a clamour here
>> Â (and I suppose I represent a large group of Linux users here). I'm
>> Â willing to suggest a numbering scheme which I hope will answer all
>> Â known complaints and criticism.
>
> This seems to be a periodically recurrent topic on the list.
>
> If I've correctly understood all points of view, there are currently two
> groups of developers:
>
> 1. Those who want to maintain the current numbering scheme, because they
> feel comfortable with it, and because they can easily understand the
> number of releases between one release and another.
>
> 2. Those who prefer having a scheme somehow related to the date, so they
> can easily understand when a certain kernel has been released (i.e. how
> "old" it is).
>
> Does really exist a numbering scheme that can satisfy both groups of
> people ? Probably not.
>
> My only idea would be to maintain the usual numbering scheme, and just
> replace the second number (6) with the year of release.
>
> For example:
>
> Â Â Â Â2.6.36 would be 2.10.36
>
> Â Â Â Â2.6.37 would be 2.11.37
>
> Â Â Â Â2.6.38 would be 2.11.38
>
> Â Â Â Âand so on...
>
> This way, you put some information about the year of release without
> loosing all the benefits of the current scheme.
>
> But this means having two independent incremental numbers, which maybe
> is a too insane scheme.

Then why not drop the leading "2." completely?

Gr{oetje,eeting}s,

            Geert

--
Geert Uytterhoeven -- There's lots of Linux beyond ia32 -- geert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In personal conversations with technical people, I call myself a hacker. But
when I'm talking to journalists I just say "programmer" or something like that.
             Â Â -- Linus Torvalds
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