Linux Kernel: A "conclave" will decide on the new leadership in case of doubt

If necessary, central Linux programmers will in future decide at a "conclave" who will lead the kernel's development. However, such a meeting will only take place if designated successors cannot or will not take over the position.

This hitherto unresolved case is now regulated by a text in a file called "conclave", which Linus Torvalds incorporated into the documentation of his kernel called Linux on Saturday night. The text emphasizes that while development is distributed on the one hand, it ultimately goes through a single pair of hands. These have been Linus Torvalds' since the beginning, apart from a creative break during Linux 4.19.

Creative Break Demonstrates Work Capability

This has also shown that other developers have access to the kernel's main development branch and can quickly take over development management if necessary. However, should these individuals not be able or willing to do so, the organizer of the last Kernel Maintainer Summit will henceforth be responsible for convening a meeting to decide on the further course of action. To this end, they will invite at least the participants of the last summit and the members of the Linux Foundation's Technical Advisory Board (TAB); however, all of them can bring others on board.

The driving force behind the text with the new procedure was Dan Williams, who has been one of the central Linux developers for years and is also a member of the TAB. He had addressed the succession plan in December at the last Maintainer Summit and had since drafted the text.

Torvalds ratified it less than 24 hours after its publication, by integrating it into the sources – thereby ultimately stifling the public discussion phase, which is otherwise customary for kernel changes, after a short time.

Waiting Game

Ultimately, however, it remains to be seen whether or when this procedure will ever be applied: The whole thing only comes into play if none of those with the necessary access rights can or will take over the job. One of them is Greg Kroah-Hartman, who represented Torvalds in the development of 4.19. He is also generally considered the designated successor, as we explained in more detail in the autumn: What would happen with Linux without Linus Torvalds

(olb)