Linux 7.3 released with record 18,765 commits, 807 first-time developers
Linux 7.3 is the largest kernel release by contributor count, with 3,021 developers including 807 first-timers, and introduces the completed sched_ext subscheduler, fchroot(), failfs, and BPF per-CPU data.
Summary
Linus Torvalds released Linux 7.3 on schedule, marking a record release with 18,765 non-merge commits from 3,021 developers. The release completes the sched_ext subscheduler feature, adds the fchroot() system call for more flexible chroot operations, introduces failfs for testing filesystem error paths, and enables global per-CPU data for BPF programs. Group scheduling improvements target large-system performance, while ntfs3 gains alternative data stream support and the SMB server sees extensive updates.
What's new in Linux 7.3
- sched_ext completed: the extensible subscheduler framework, allowing custom scheduling policies in BPF, is now fully merged
- fchroot(): new system call that operates on a file descriptor rather than a path, enabling safer container and sandbox implementations
- failfs: new in-kernel filesystem that fails all operations by design, for testing filesystem error handling without hardware fault injection
- BPF global per-CPU data: BPF programs can now access per-CPU variables globally, reducing overhead for certain tracing and networking use cases
- binfmt_misc extensions: expanded binary format handling capabilities
- Working-set tracking for VMs: kernel can now track guest working sets, potentially improving memory management for virtualized workloads
Why it matters
The record 807 first-time developers signals continued growth in kernel contributor base. The completion of sched_ext is particularly significant for cloud and HPC operators seeking custom scheduling without maintaining out-of-tree patches.
Original reference: lwn.net →