The launch date for the next Ubuntu point release is being delayed, but there’s a positive development: Canonical is committing to using fresher kernels in future builds.
Canonical has announced some mixed news recently. While the release of 24.04.1, the first point-release of the current LTS version, April’s Noble Numbat, is being delayed, the company has decided to prioritize newer kernel releases for both interim and future LTS versions of Ubuntu.
Originally planned for this week, the release of Ubuntu 24.04.1 has been postponed by two weeks and is now expected on August 29 due to high-impact upgrade bugs that need to be addressed.
This delay is not the first to affect the Noble release cycle, as the beta version was also delayed by two weeks. Similarly, the option to update from 23.10 “Mantic” to “Noble” was delayed back in May for those who prefer interim releases.
It’s important to note that the upgrade to “Noble” was only offered to users running the preceding interim release. LTS users will only be prompted to upgrade when the following LTS version gets its first point release. Therefore, those running 22.04 “Jammy” will only receive updates when 24.04.1 is released at the end of August.
Additionally, the scheduled release date for 22.04.5 is also at the end of August, with the potential for further point releases in the future.
Enhanced Kernel Freshness
Another significant announcement from Canonical is the change in the kernel version policy. The Ubuntu Kernel Team has decided to prioritize newer kernel releases for future Ubuntu versions.
The upstream Linux kernel team offers stable and long-term releases, and Canonical’s new approach aims to align with these releases to ensure that Ubuntu users benefit from the latest kernel updates.
By incorporating nearly ready kernel versions into the Ubuntu development process, Canonical aims to ensure that future releases have newer, supported kernel versions.
This strategic shift towards closer collaboration with the upstream kernel team is a step towards improved coordination and support for Ubuntu users. It signals a positive direction for the Linux community as a whole, fostering greater cooperation and development.
