Linux 7.4-rc1 hits 20,000 commits as Linus Torvalds points to AI bug-hunting
The first release candidate for Linux 7.4 packs an unusually large patch volume, driven by hardware register headers and early-stage AI-assisted bug fixing.
Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux 7.4-rc1, the first release candidate for the new kernel version, which pulled in nearly 20,000 commits during its merge window compared to the usual 15,000, according to a report covered by habr based on details from LWN.net.
Torvalds attributed part of this growth to the active use of artificial intelligence for bug discovery and early-stage patch integration. Unlike previous cycles where AI-generated fixes often arrived late during the stabilization phase, these changes are now entering the main merge window earlier. While AI frequently supplies ready-made patches, developers typically rewrite them before inclusion.
However, the raw commit count does not tell the whole story. Roughly one-third of the patch volume stems from header files describing AMD graphic processor register offsets and bit masks—a recurring data bulk that inflates kernel size metrics without altering functional driver code distribution. Developer anticipation of Linux 7.4 potentially becoming a long-term support release may also have supercharged contribution activity.
Source: habr
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