The Canonical Kernel Team announced a new process for selecting the Linux kernel version for upcoming Ubuntu releases. The decision was made to provide the latest available kernel version at the time of each release. This means that the stabilization and preparation of kernel packages for new Ubuntu versions can now be based on either existing kernel releases or candidates for upcoming releases.
Previously, the kernel version for the next Ubuntu release was chosen based on a stable kernel release available at the time of freezing the features of the future Ubuntu release. However, with new kernel branches being created every 2-3 months, there were instances where an older kernel branch was included in the Ubuntu release despite a newer stable branch being available shortly before release. This frustrated users seeking the latest kernel features and hardware support.
The new approach allows for selecting a kernel version that is actively receiving changes or is in the early candidate stages at the time of freezing Ubuntu functionality. By the beta version stage, the chosen kernel version should be at the released stage or in late candidate stages (such as RC4 or newer). This means the kernel release will be close to the Ubuntu release date, allowing for testing of the kernel package based on pre-release versions that are mostly stable and only contain minor bugs. For example, the upcoming Ubuntu 24.10 release is expected to include kernel version 6.10, while kernel version 6.11, set for release at the end of September, will not be included.
