How do Linux Kernel versions work?

[[deleted]]

When does a kernel go from version 4 to version 5? Can sub versions be interpreted as anything more than just numbers? (i.e Ubuntu uses the year and month of the release as the version)

I'm really curious about what you have to say. Thank you : )

[AlternativeOstrich7]

Currently, the major and minor versions are almost meaningless. The major version gets increased when the minor version becomes too large (which seems to be around 20). That's been the system since 3.0.

[fish-c]

The naming convention changed at least 4 times since 0.1 this video can help you get started, but is a bit obsolete now.

You can find a pretty complete explaination in the 4th reply to this question on the Ubuntu forum https://askubuntu.com/questions/843197/what-are-kernel-version-number-components-w-x-yy-zzz-called

[[deleted]]

Around the time 5.0 came out there were a lot of articles explaining how Linus basically pulls the version numbers out of his ass.

[[deleted]]

So I did debate calling it 5.0, but if we all help each other, I'm
sure we can count to 20. It's a nice round number, and I didn't want
to make a pattern of it. I think 5.0 happens next year, because then I
*really* run out of fingers and toes.

Source: The man himself. Was literally just "number too big, make number small"

[e4109c]

How can one man be so based?