Linux kernel
Unix-like operating system kernel, basis for all Linux operating systems
Also known as Linux · linux · the Linux kernel
- Instance of
- Founded
- August 25, 1991
- Website
Overview
All data
1,226 statements · 73% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations
- Developer
- Linus Torvalds
- Alan Cox
- Greg Kroah-Hartman
- Ingo Molnár
- Andrew Morton
- Larry W. Finger(until 2023) latest start date: 2005
3
Sources- 1.Stated in LWN.netlwn.net/Articles/936113/Retrieved 2024-06-28
- 2.git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/log/?qt=author&q=Larry+FingerRetrieved 2024-06-28
- 3.Stated in Ars Technicaarstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/06/larry-finger-linux-wireless-hero-was-a-persistent-patient-coder-and-mentor/?comments=1Retrieved 2024-06-28
- Mauro Carvalho Chehab latest start date: 2005
- License
- GNU General Public License, version 2.0(since 1992) reason for preferred rank: currently valid value
3
Sources- 1.“RELEASE NOTES FOR LINUX v0.12”mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/Historic/old-versions/RELNOTES-0.12Retrieved 2018-04-10
- 2.“It’s official, Linux was released on September 17, 1991”cio.com/article/3121811/linux/it-s-official-linux-was-released-on-september-17-1991.htmlRetrieved 2018-04-10
- 3.Stated in Open Hub“The linux Open Source Project on Open Hub: Licenses Page”openhub.net/p/linux/licensesRetrieved 2018-07-19
- proprietary license(until 1992)
1
Sources- 1.“It’s official, Linux was released on September 17, 1991”cio.com/article/3121811/linux/it-s-official-linux-was-released-on-september-17-1991.htmlRetrieved 2018-04-10
- GNU General Public License, version 2.0(since 1992) reason for preferred rank: currently valid value
- Written in
- C reason for preferred rank: most frequent value
2
Sources- 1.Stated in Open Hub“The linux Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page”openhub.net/p/linux/analyses/latest/languages_summaryRetrieved 2018-07-14
- 2.github.com/EvanLi/Github-Ranking/blob/master/Data/github-ranking-2025-07-06.csv
- assembly language
- Rust
- C reason for preferred rank: most frequent value
- Latest version
- 7.2.9 version type: stable version · released: October 3, 2026
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 7.2.9”lore.kernel.org/lkml/2026100323-uncombed-july-abe2@gregkh/Retrieved 2026-10-04
- 7.3-rc6 version type: release candidate version · released: October 4, 2026
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 7.3-rc6”lore.kernel.org/lkml/CAHk-=wgYMaZik+wZYTE1bv7x5OUNsorG0WU16gFSZpX4TomMbQ@mail.gmail.com/Retrieved 2026-10-05
- 3.17 released: October 5, 2014
- 3.16.3 released: September 17, 2014 · version type: long-term support release
- 3.16 released: August 3, 2014 · version type: long-term support release
2
Sources- 1.lkml.org/lkml/2014/8/3/82
- 2.kernel.org/category/releases.htmlRetrieved 2020-02-01
- 3.15 released: June 8, 2014
- 3.14 released: March 30, 2014
- 3.13 released: January 19, 2014
Show 52 moreShow less
- 3.12 released: November 3, 2013
- 3.11 released: September 2, 2013 · title: Linux for Workgroups · named after: Windows for Workgroups 3.11
- 3.10 released: June 30, 2013
- 3.9 released: April 28, 2013
- 3.8 released: February 18, 2013
- 3.7 released: December 10, 2012
- 3.6 released: September 30, 2012
- 3.5 released: July 21, 2012
- 3.4 released: May 20, 2012
- 3.3 released: March 18, 2012
- 3.2 released: January 4, 2012
- 3.1 released: October 24, 2011
- 3.0 released: July 21, 2011
- 3.19 released: February 8, 2015
- 3.19.3 released: March 26, 2015
1
- 4.0 released: April 12, 2015
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.0 released”lkml.org/lkml/2015/4/12/178Retrieved 2015-04-13
- 4.1 released: June 22, 2015
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.1 released”lkml.org/lkml/2015/6/22/8Retrieved 2015-06-28
- 4.2 released: August 30, 2015
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.2 is out”lkml.org/lkml/2015/8/30/96Retrieved 2015-09-02
- 4.3 released: November 2, 2015
1
- 3.18 released: December 7, 2014
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 3.18 released”lkml.org/lkml/2014/12/7/202Retrieved 2015-11-14
- 4.4.5 released: March 9, 2016 · version type: long-term support release
- 4.5 released: March 14, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
- 4.4.6 released: March 16, 2016 · version type: long-term support release
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.4.6”cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.4.6Retrieved 2020-04-09
- 4.5.1 released: April 12, 2016
1
- 4.5.2 released: April 20, 2016
- 4.5.3 released: May 4, 2016
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.5.3”mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.5.3Retrieved 2020-05-09
- 3.14.69 released: May 11, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 3.14.69”cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.14.69
- 3.18.33 released: May 11, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 3.18.33”cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.18.33
- 4.1.24 released: May 11, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.1.24”cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.1.24
- 4.4.10 released: May 11, 2016 · version type: long-term support release
- 4.5.4 released: May 11, 2016 · version type: stable version
- 4.6 released: May 15, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
- 3.14.70 released: May 18, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 3.14.70”kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.14.70Retrieved 2016-06-01
- 4.4.11 released: May 18, 2016 · version type: long-term support release
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.4.11”kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.4.11Retrieved 2016-06-01
- 4.5.5 released: May 18, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.5.5”kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.5.5Retrieved 2016-06-01
- 4.1.25 released: May 20, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.1.25”kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.1.25Retrieved 2016-06-01
- 3.18.34 released: May 20, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 3.18.34”kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.18.34Retrieved 2016-06-01
- 3.14.71 released: June 1, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 3.14.71”kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.14.71Retrieved 2016-06-01
- 4.4.12 released: June 1, 2016 · version type: long-term support release
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.4.12”kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.4.12Retrieved 2016-06-01
- 4.5.6 released: June 1, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.5.6”kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.5.6Retrieved 2016-06-01
- 4.6.1 released: June 1, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.6.1”kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.6.1Retrieved 2016-06-01
- 4.6.2 released: June 8, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
- 4.6.3 released: June 24, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.6.3”cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.6.3Retrieved 2016-06-25
- 4.6.4 released: July 11, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
Sources- 1.“Linux 4.6.4”cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.6.4Retrieved 2016-07-25
- 4.7 released: July 24, 2016 · version type: stable version
- 4.7.2 released: August 20, 2016 · version type: stable version
- 4.8 released: October 2, 2016 · version type: stable version
- 4.8.4 released: October 22, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
- 4.8.5 released: October 28, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
- 4.8.6 released: October 31, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
- 4.4.29 released: October 31, 2016 · version type: long-term support release
1
- 4.8.7 released: November 10, 2016 · version type: stable version
1
- 7.2.9 version type: stable version · released: October 3, 2026
- Mascot
- Tux(since 1996)
- Tuz(2009–2009)
2
Sources- 1.“kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git - Linux kernel source tree”git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=8032b526d1a3bd91ad633dd3a3b5fdbc47ad54f1Retrieved 2018-03-03
- 2.“kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git - Linux kernel source tree”git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=3d4f16348b77efbf81b7fa186a18a0eb815b6b84Retrieved 2018-03-03
- Public key fingerprint
- 647F 2865 4894 E3BD 4571 99BE 38DB BDC8 6092 693E owned by: Greg Kroah-Hartman
1
Sources- 1.“Linux kernel releases PGP signatures (English)”kernel.org/category/signatures.htmlRetrieved 2023-06-22
- C75D C40A 11D7 AF88 9981 ED5B C86B A06A 517D 0F0E(until 2011) end cause: key compromise
1
Sources- 1.“Linux kernel releases PGP signatures”kernel.org/signature.htmlRetrieved 2017-02-28
- BFA7 DD3E 0D42 1C9D B6AB 6527 0D3B 3537 C479 0F9D(until 2011) end cause: key compromise
1
Sources- 1.“Linux kernel releases PGP signatures”kernel.org/signature.htmlRetrieved 2017-02-28
- 9DB4 C3A4 EF2A 3111 9072 82F3 F2A5 75DC 1E1A 8782(until 2000)
1
Sources- 1.“Linux kernel releases PGP signatures”kernel.org/signature.htmlRetrieved 2017-02-28
- 59 B1 5F 6F E3 13 4C 8B 33 E5 14 35 21 F1 D1 03(until 1999)
1
Sources- 1.“Linux kernel releases PGP signatures”kernel.org/signature.htmlRetrieved 2017-02-28
- 647F 2865 4894 E3BD 4571 99BE 38DB BDC8 6092 693E owned by: Greg Kroah-Hartman
- Released
- September 17, 1991
1
Sources- 1.“It’s official, Linux was released on September 17, 1991”cio.com/article/3121811/linux/it-s-official-linux-was-released-on-september-17-1991.htmlRetrieved 2018-04-10
- September 17, 1991
- Announcement date
- August 25, 1991 publisher: Usenet · archive url: groups.google.com
- Native label
- Linux kernel
On other databases
28 identifiers linking Linux kernel across the web's reference databases
- AlternativeTo IDlinux-kernel
- Arch Linux packagelinux
- ArchWiki articleKernel_(Русский)
- AUR packagelinux-git-docs
- BabelNet ID01415385n
- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures IDCVE-2017-2584
- Debian source packagelinux-signed-amd64
- Debian stable packagelinux-image-amd64
- Fedora packagekernel
- Freebase ID/m/04pm6
- FreeBSD portsysutils/turbostat
- Gentoo packagesys-kernel/vanilla-sources
- Gentoo Wiki articleKernel
- GitHub topiclinux-kernel
- Google+ ID+Linux
- KBpedia IDLinuxKernel
- Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued)553261973
- Namuwiki IDLinux/커널
- Open Hub IDlinux
- OpenAlex IDC553261973
- OpenSUSE packagekernel-default
- OSDN projectfreshmeat_linux
- Pro-Linux.de DBApp ID7130
- Quora topic IDLinux-Kernel
- Repology project namelinux
- Subredditkernel
- Ubuntu packagelinux-image-generic
- Zhihu topic ID19614193