August 24th, 2024

Linus Torvalds Begins Expressing Regrets Merging Bcachefs

Linus Torvalds regrets merging Bcachefs into the Linux kernel due to large pull requests and ongoing issues, questioning its stability as no major distributions currently use it.

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Linus Torvalds Begins Expressing Regrets Merging Bcachefs

Linus Torvalds has expressed regrets over the decision to merge the Bcachefs file system into the Linux kernel, citing ongoing issues with large pull requests that include significant changes rather than just bug fixes. During the current Linux 6.11 cycle, a recent pull request included over a thousand lines of code, which Torvalds criticized for being excessive and not adhering to the kernel's release rules. He noted that the Bcachefs patches have increasingly resembled development work rather than necessary fixes, leading him to question whether Bcachefs should remain part of the upstream kernel. The maintainer of Bcachefs defended the file system, asserting its reliability compared to Btrfs and expressing a commitment to improving its robustness. However, Torvalds pointed out that no major Linux distributions currently utilize Bcachefs, emphasizing the risks of introducing new bugs through extensive changes. The contentious exchange highlights the challenges of integrating Bcachefs into the Linux kernel, with no revised pull request focused solely on bug fixes submitted as of yet.

- Linus Torvalds regrets merging Bcachefs due to ongoing issues with large pull requests.

- Recent changes to Bcachefs included over a thousand lines of code, which Torvalds criticized.

- The Bcachefs maintainer argues for its reliability compared to Btrfs.

- No major Linux distributions currently use Bcachefs, raising concerns about its stability.

- The situation reflects broader challenges in maintaining kernel release schedules.

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Link Icon 1 comments
By @booi - 3 months
Pretty ballsy to say bcachefs will be better than ext4/xfs, then submit a 1000 line PR.