This article documents the version history of the Linux kernel. The
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is a free and open-source, monolithic, modular, multitasking, Unix-like operating system kernel. It was originally authored in 1991 by Linus Torvalds for his i386-based PC, and it was soon adopted as the kernel for the GNU ...
is a
free and open-source
Free and open-source software (FOSS) is a term used to refer to groups of software consisting of both free software and open-source software where anyone is freely licensed to use, copy, study, and change the software in any way, and the source ...
,
monolithic,
Unix-like
A Unix-like (sometimes referred to as UN*X or *nix) operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, although not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification. A Unix-li ...
operating system
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common daemon (computing), services for computer programs.
Time-sharing operating systems scheduler (computing), schedule tasks for ef ...
kernel. It was conceived and created in 1991 by
Linus Torvalds
Linus Benedict Torvalds ( , ; born 28 December 1969) is a Finnish software engineer who is the creator and, historically, the lead developer of the Linux kernel, used by Linux distributions and other operating systems such as Android. He also ...
.
Linux kernels have different support levels depending on the version. The oldest currently-supported version, 4.9, released in December 2016, was declared to have six years of
Long-Term Support (LTS), followed by Super-Long-Term Support (SLTS), i.e. Civil Infrastructure Platform will provide support (for
32-bit ARM and
x86-64
x86-64 (also known as x64, x86_64, AMD64, and Intel 64) is a 64-bit version of the x86 instruction set, first released in 1999. It introduced two new modes of operation, 64-bit mode and compatibility mode, along with a new 4-level paging ...
only) until at least 2026, possibly until 2036.
Releases 6.x.y
Releases 5.x.y
Releases 4.x.y
Releases 3.x.y
The jump from 2.6.x to 3.x wasn't because of a breaking update, but rather the first release of a new versioning scheme introduced as a more convenient system.
Releases 2.6.x.y
Versions 2.6.16 and 2.6.27 of the Linux kernel were unofficially supported in a
long-term support (LTS) fashion, before a 2011
working group
A working group, or working party, is a group of experts working together to achieve specified goals. The groups are domain-specific and focus on discussion or activity around a specific subject area. The term can sometimes refer to an interdis ...
in the
Linux Foundation started a formal long-term support initiative.
Releases before 2.6.0
ImageSize = width:699 height:328
PlotArea = right:0 left:0 bottom:32 top:24
AlignBars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/07/1991 till:01/08/2011
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
Legend = left:5 top:15 columnwidth:115
Colors =
id:Minor value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)
id:Major value:rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6)
id:DEV value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8) Legend:Development
id:SUPPORT value:rgb(0.6,0.9,0.6) Legend:Supported
id:LTS value:rgb(0.6,0.8,0.9) Legend:LTS
BackgroundColors = canvas:white
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:Minor unit:year increment:1 start:01/07/1992
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:Major unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1992
PlotData =
width:14 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:M
bar:2.4.37
color:LTS from:02/12/2008 till:18/12/2010 text:2.4.37.x
bar:2.4.36
color:LTS from:01/01/2008 till:09/11/2008 text:2.4.36.x
bar:2.4.35
color:LTS from:26/07/2007 till:17/12/2007 text:2.4.35.x
bar:2.4.34
color:LTS from:23/12/2006 till:22/07/2007 text:2.4.34.x
bar:2.4.33
color:LTS from:13/08/2006 till:22/12/2006 text:2.4.33.x
bar:2.4
color:DEV from:15/03/2000 till:04/01/2001 text:2.4.x
color:SUPPORT from:04/01/2001 till:16/11/2005
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.4/
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.4/testing/
bar:2.3
color:SUPPORT from:11/05/1999 till:11/03/2000 text:2.3.x
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.3/
bar:2.2
color:DEV from:30/12/1998 till:26/01/1999 text:2.2.x
color:SUPPORT from:26/01/1999 till:24/02/2004
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.2/
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/testing/old/v2.2/
bar:2.1
color:SUPPORT from:30/09/1996 till:22/12/1998 text:2.1.x
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.1/
bar:2.0
color:DEV from:12/05/1996 till:09/06/1996 text:2.0.x
color:SUPPORT from:09/06/1996 till:08/02/2004
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.0/
bar:1.3
color:SUPPORT from:12/06/1995 till:10/05/1996 text:1.3.x
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v1.3/
bar:1.2
color:SUPPORT from:07/03/1995 till:02/08/1995 text:1.2.x
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v1.2/
bar:1.1
color:SUPPORT from:06/04/1994 till:02/03/1995 text:1.1.x
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v1.1/
bar:1.0
color:DEV from:13/12/1992 till:13/03/1994 text:1.0.x
color:SUPPORT from:13/03/1994 till:16/04/1994
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v1.0/
bar:0.99
color:SUPPORT from:13/12/1992 till:03/02/1994 text:0.99.x
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/Historic/v0.99/
bar:0.9
color:SUPPORT from:08/03/1992 till:28/09/1992 text:0.9x
# https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/Historic/old-versions/
bar:0.1
color:SUPPORT from:17/09/1991 till:12/01/1992 text:≤0.12
See also
*
Linux adoption
Linux adoption is the adoption of Linux computer operating systems (OS) by households, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and governments.
Many factors have resulted in the expanded use of Linux systems by traditional desktop users as well as ...
*
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is a free and open-source, monolithic, modular, multitasking, Unix-like operating system kernel. It was originally authored in 1991 by Linus Torvalds for his i386-based PC, and it was soon adopted as the kernel for the GNU ...
*
History of Linux
*
Timeline of free and open-source software
References
External links
Official Linux kernel website on the official Linux kernel website
Linux versions changelog in Linux Kernel Newbies
{{Timelines of computing
Linux kernel
Software version histories