Linux 6.18 stable is now available! Linux 6.18 ushers in many new features and changes while also is expected to become this year’s Long Term Support “LTS” kernel version.
Linux 6.18 was just tagged in Git and being pushed out now to kernel.org. Linux 6.18 features more Apple Silicon upstreaming this time around the M2 Pro / Max / Ultra Device Trees, Intel continuing to bring-up Wildcat Lake platform support, the introduction of the new “Sheaves” code, Nouveau by default on Ampere and Turing will rely on the NVIDIA GPU System Processor (GSP) firmware where available, XFS online fsck being enabled by default, haptic touchpad support, merging of dm-pcache, and many other changes.
Linux 6.18 is coming in heavy on new features while also performing well in my benchmarks thus far with not having noticed any real regressions over Linux 6.17. See the Linux 6.18 feature overview to learn more about the changes coming in this new kernel. With Linux 6.18 being the last major kernel version to make it out this calendar year, it’s anticipated to become the 2025 Linux LTS kernel to be maintained for an extended period of time. Though how many years it will be maintained under the LTS flag remains to be seen based upon stakeholder interest/usage/support if it will manage to become a 5~6 year kernel or not.
With Linus Torvalds now having released Linux 6.18 stable, it’s on to the Linux 6.19 merge window for the next two weeks. There are many notable features and improvements on the table for Linux 6.19.
