The second release candidate for Linux Kernel 7.3, version 7.3-rc2, has been released, featuring nearly 2,000 commits from 694 contributors, with a focus on fixing scheduler regressions, hardening the BPF verifier, and addressing security flaws in USB and staging drivers. Linus Torvalds noted the unusually high volume of patches for an rc2 release, humorously attributing it to AI. The release includes significant regression fixes, particularly from the recent single-runqueue conversion in the CFS scheduler, and a series of security patches prompted by Google's automated fuzzing tool. Overall, the development cycle has been busy and productive, indicating effective stress-testing of the kernel
Linux Kernel 7.3 RC2 Shipped With ~2,000 Commits, BPF Hardening, and Scheduler Regressions Patched
The second release candidate for Linux Kernel 7.3 has landed on Sunday, pulling fixes from nine subsystem trees and posting 1,984 commits from 694 contributors in a single development cycle. The release prioritizes patching regressions from the recent single-runqueue conversion, hardening the BPF verifier with 86 commits, and resolving security flaws across the USB and staging drivers. Torvalds flagged the unusually heavy patch volume for an rc2, quipping that everyone should just blame the timing on AI, though the tree is clearly getting the stress-testing it needs.
