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Why don't Linux devs give different labels to the LTS releases? Somehow a kernel version that gets supported for 7 years is the same kind of LTS as one that get

Why don't Linux devs give different labels to the LTS releases? Somehow a kernel version that gets supported for 7 years is the same kind of LTS as one that gets supported for 3.

capableweb 4y ago
They do, they label it LTS :) It seems they don't know beforehand which releases will be labeled LTS though, it happens after the release itself. > eg KH was planning on Linux 6.1 being LTS given its December debut. But he was waiting on feedback from kernel stakeholders over their test results with Linux 6.1 and plans around using Linux 6.1 for the long-term. He's finally collected enough positive responses -- along with co-maintainer Sasha Levin -- that there is confidence in maintaining Linux 6.1 as an LTS series.
- AstixAndBelix 4y ago
  That's not what I'm saying. There is a huge difference between a release that gets updates for basically a decade and one that gets updates for less than an Android phone's cycle. Why can't they call them Really Long Term Release or somethinf like that?
  - orangepurple 4y ago
    Because it sounds like the designation is negotiated with many parties simultaneously and there is a lot of uncertainty in the process. It seems that once a critical mass of supporters pledge to maintain the branch for a while it becomes designated LTS. You can't force anyone to maintain it for a really long time so they won't commit to a timeline. I am speculating this is why.
  - nazgulsenpai 4y ago
    Linux kernel actually does have a SLTS designation for super long term release. https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/civilinfrastructureplatform/cipkernelmaintenance https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/civilinfrastructureplatform...
  - pavon 4y ago
    When it comes down to it, it is the distros (including Android) that decide which kernel versions they are going to use and for how long. Upstream doesn't always know this in advance, and only have limited influence in nudging distros to use certain kernels, since the big distros do their own patching and backporting anyway. There is no point for upstream to continue to support a kernel for 10 years if no one is actually using it 3 years later. So instead they give an initial support window, and extend it if the kernel becomes popular and no serious maintenance issues are discovered.
- jmclnx 4y ago
  > It seems they don't know beforehand which releases will be labeled LTS though, it happens after the release itself. This I do not understand. I think for commercial reasons it would be good to know: * The next LTS * Its actual real "Life Time" well before its release. I think this will help commercial entities and some distros in their planning (maybe even the distro I prefer). Right now it seems rather random. But with that said, years ago, I heard some kernel developers would like to stop having LTS kernels. I wonder if these somewhat unplanned LTS announcements is one of the reasons for that thought. To me, if they cannot have a formal planning process, maybe better not to have any LTS kernels.
  - LoganDark 4y ago
    LTS has never meant "life time support", it means "long term support". "long term" means more than usual. LTS versions stay supported for some years when other versions are only supported until the next version comes out.

Why don't Linux devs give different labels to the LTS releases? Somehow a kernel version that gets supported for 7 years is the same kind of LTS as one that gets supported for 3.

capableweb 4y ago

They do, they label it LTS :) It seems they don't know beforehand which releases will be labeled LTS though, it happens after the release itself. > eg KH was planning on Linux 6.1 being LTS given its December debut. But he was waiting on feedback from kernel stakeholders over their test results with Linux 6.1 and plans around using Linux 6.1 for the long-term. He's finally collected enough positive responses -- along with co-maintainer Sasha Levin -- that there is confidence in maintaining Linux 6.1 as an LTS series.

AstixAndBelix 4y ago
That's not what I'm saying. There is a huge difference between a release that gets updates for basically a decade and one that gets updates for less than an Android phone's cycle. Why can't they call them Really Long Term Release or somethinf like that?
- orangepurple 4y ago
  Because it sounds like the designation is negotiated with many parties simultaneously and there is a lot of uncertainty in the process. It seems that once a critical mass of supporters pledge to maintain the branch for a while it becomes designated LTS. You can't force anyone to maintain it for a really long time so they won't commit to a timeline. I am speculating this is why.
- nazgulsenpai 4y ago
  Linux kernel actually does have a SLTS designation for super long term release. https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/civilinfrastructureplatform/cipkernelmaintenance https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/civilinfrastructureplatform...
- pavon 4y ago
  When it comes down to it, it is the distros (including Android) that decide which kernel versions they are going to use and for how long. Upstream doesn't always know this in advance, and only have limited influence in nudging distros to use certain kernels, since the big distros do their own patching and backporting anyway. There is no point for upstream to continue to support a kernel for 10 years if no one is actually using it 3 years later. So instead they give an initial support window, and extend it if the kernel becomes popular and no serious maintenance issues are discovered.
jmclnx 4y ago
> It seems they don't know beforehand which releases will be labeled LTS though, it happens after the release itself. This I do not understand. I think for commercial reasons it would be good to know: * The next LTS * Its actual real "Life Time" well before its release. I think this will help commercial entities and some distros in their planning (maybe even the distro I prefer). Right now it seems rather random. But with that said, years ago, I heard some kernel developers would like to stop having LTS kernels. I wonder if these somewhat unplanned LTS announcements is one of the reasons for that thought. To me, if they cannot have a formal planning process, maybe better not to have any LTS kernels.
- LoganDark 4y ago
  LTS has never meant "life time support", it means "long term support". "long term" means more than usual. LTS versions stay supported for some years when other versions are only supported until the next version comes out.