Re: On Linux numbering scheme

[Greg KH]

On Sat, Jan 08, 2011 at 09:49:26AM -0500, Artem S. Tashkinov wrote:
> ----- "Geert Uytterhoeven" <geert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 09:31, Claudio Scordino
> > <claudio@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >>   As time passes by, the Linux numbering scheme makes even less
> > sense.
> > >>   Some time ago there was a discussion on LKML about a new
> > numbering
> > >>   scheme but it didn't come to any positive conclusion and then
> > the
> > >>   subject was forgotten entirely. Not meaning to raise a clamour
> > here
> > >>   (and I suppose I represent a large group of Linux users here).
> > I'm
> > >>   willing to suggest a numbering scheme which I hope will answer
> > all
> > >>   known complaints and criticism.
> > >
> > > This seems to be a periodically recurrent topic on the list.
> > >
> > > If I've correctly understood all points of view, there are currently
> > two
> > > groups of developers:
> > >
> > > 1. Those who want to maintain the current numbering scheme, because
> > they
> > > feel comfortable with it, and because they can easily understand
> > the
> > > number of releases between one release and another.
> > >
> > > 2. Those who prefer having a scheme somehow related to the date, so
> > they
> > > can easily understand when a certain kernel has been released (i.e.
> > how
> > > "old" it is).
> > >
> > > Does really exist a numbering scheme that can satisfy both groups
> > of
> > > people ? Probably not.
> > >
> > > My only idea would be to maintain the usual numbering scheme, and
> > just
> > > replace the second number (6) with the year of release.
> > >
> > > For example:
> > >
> > >        2.6.36 would be 2.10.36
> > >
> > >        2.6.37 would be 2.11.37
> > >
> > >        2.6.38 would be 2.11.38
> > >
> > >        and so on...
> > >
> > > This way, you put some information about the year of release
> > without
> > > loosing all the benefits of the current scheme.
> > >
> > > But this means having two independent incremental numbers, which
> > maybe
> > > is a too insane scheme.
> > 
> > Then why not drop the leading "2." completely?
> > 
> 
> This will break too many user space scripts/applications which expect
> 2.x.x.x numbers.

What userspace scripts/applications expect numbers like that?  How do
they handle releases like what Linus just did (2.6.37)?

thanks,

greg k-h
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