How Linux kernels are numbered and why I can't spell today.

Welcome back my 2.5 viewers -

In this weeks post, we talk about how Linux will be integrated into oxygen to make odd people even and obsessive compulsive's happier.

..

According to the internets, Linux kernel distribution names are named according to there "stability". Odd numbers and even numbers in this case. Even numbered releases such as 2.4, 2.6, 2.8 etc. are categorized as more concrete builds that have been through alpha and beta stages. The less complete and/or alpha/beta kernel releases are usually categorized into odd numbers such as 2.5, 2.7, 2.9. The even/odd system for kernels came around march of 1994 with vers 1.0 then in 1996 with 2.0 and so on with major and minor revision in between. In 2004, they seemed to ditch the system idea in favor of a shorter release cycle system adding extra numbers instead such as 2.5.943 leaving the third set of numbers as the revision type.

The advantages of favoring the even/odd system is that you obviously know if a version is stable or not. The disadvantage of this is that it can be very limiting to devs as every other release of a kernel should be stable/unstable accordingly. Although a number and letter system would be a quick fix for this issue, (i.e 2.4.28a - 2.4.28z) it would still be limited and most likely be more confusing in the long run.

..  I honestly can't spell today - had to rewrite about every other sentence in this weeks post..