Linux 7.3 Released

What happened

Linus Torvalds, who leads Linux kernel development, released version 7.3 on a Sunday. The release came out on time, as expected. Because the 7.3 release is final, the next step, called the merge window for 7.4, opens the next day. Linus said he would be on a family vacation, so his merging work would start later than usual.

Key numbers

• 18,765 non-merge commits (saved changes to the code, not counting merge steps)
• 3,021 developers took part
• 807 of those developers were new to kernel work
• A record-breaking release on all fronts

Main new features

This release adds several larger changes. Some improve binfmt_misc, a feature that lets the system run certain file types in special ways. Others improve how tasks are grouped for scheduling, which should help large computers run faster. A new filesystem called failfs fails every operation on purpose. The release also adds the fchroot() system call, which lets a program change its root folder using a file handle, and global per-CPU data for BPF programs (small safe programs that run inside the kernel). It also finishes the sched_ext subscheduler feature, adds working-set tracking for virtual machines, adds alternative data-stream support in the ntfs3 filesystem, and includes many SMB server improvements.

Why it matters

A kernel release affects many devices, from servers to phones. A record number of changes and new developers shows that the project is growing. New features may give users better speed, more control, and better support for big computers and virtual machines. Developers who test the new version now can find problems before it reaches everyday users.

What to watch

• The 7.4 merge window, which is when new changes are added to the next version
• Bug reports and fixes for the new 7.3 features
• Detailed summaries from LWN and KernelNewbies for more information