‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

Several vulnerabilities have been discovered in the Linux kernel

576 points · 408 comments · luispa

  1. fractal618 · · focus · HN ↗
    I wish everyone used the same versioning system for all software: A.B.C increment C for security patches, increment B for new features, increment A for systemic changes.
    1. atoav · · focus · HN ↗
      Well, this is called semantic versioning (semver) and it is the most popular versioning system out there: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;semver.org&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;semver.org&#x2F;

      However I see software variants where simple numbers work as well, e.g. Firmware code that runs on totally self contained hardware is often just versioned with simple integers, that is because most updates (releases) of that software contain both features and bugfixws and &quot;breaking changes&quot; don&#x27;t apply to stuff that doesn&#x27;t read or write files. So you could use semver and have 1.50.0, 1.51.0, 1.52.0 forever, but by that point you can just give it aimple integer versions.

    2. dash-44 · · focus · HN ↗
      I believe they call it semantic versioning (SemVer).
    3. drewfax · · focus · HN ↗
      Linux kernel introduces bug fixes, new features, and major systemic changes all the time. That’s why using SemVer for Linux is pointless and why Linus dropped it.
    4. orf · · focus · HN ↗
      this only really works for libraries, and not much else. especially not a kernel.
Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.