Model 6.14 of the Linux kernel arrived Monday and introduced with it a number of optimizations and safety enhancements which can be sure to make the Linux computing expertise smoother.

One of many largest enhancements is one which caters to the Linux world’s gamer crowd that is at all times in want of higher Home windows sport assist. Kernel 6.14 provides a primitive driver referred to as ntsync, quick for “NT synchronization.” In the event you’re conversant in the internal works of Home windows, that identify ought to offer you an concept of what it is about.

Briefly, ntsync will help Home windows compatibility layers equivalent to Wine in managing assets in the identical means that Home windows NT techniques do. The Linux kernel has been in a position to do that for a very long time, however ntsync will merely do it higher. Meaning Home windows video games and apps you are working on Linux utilizing a compatibility layer, whether or not it is Wine or Proton or one thing else, must run extra effectively on Linux. According to the ntsync patch author, video games noticed body charges enhance anyplace between 50 and 150 % with kernel 6.14.

Linux players are additionally seeing a boon with the power in kernel 6.14 to make use of off-brand Xbox 360 wi-fi controllers via the xpad driver. In truth, there are a number of new peripherals becoming a member of the Linux gang, together with the Nintendo Change On-line Sega 6-button gamepad and the Lenovo Go S’s built-in microphone.

This launch additionally brings a brand new driver that AI-heads ought to be aware of. The motive force brings assist for AMD’s new NPUs (Neural Processing Unit) referred to as XDNA. It is an structure you may see in AMD’s newest chips that purpose to help in synthetic intelligence duties. The motive force’s arrival means you’ll reap the benefits of these chip’s machine studying capabilities for issues like native LLM chatbots, all whereas staying within the Linux realm.

Talking of AI, one other notable entry with this kernel is the power to map the Microsoft Copilot key you see on a number of the newest Home windows laptops and sure exterior keyboards. Clearly, Microsoft’s AI assistant is not supplied natively on Linux computer systems. However with the official label “KEY_F23”, the Copilot key shall be able to being utilized in keyboard shortcuts, or simply by itself to launch no matter you need it to launch. It’s going to be as much as distro builders to resolve what, if something, it does by default.

There’s additionally a bevy of safety fixes and efficiency boosts on this launch. They vary from leak safety to GPU administration optimization, which means it’s best to get total higher use out of your {hardware} with this Linux kernel.

If you wish to use model 6.14, maybe the best means is to only wait till the release of Ubuntu 25.04 next month. It is deliberate to have 6.14 on day one, along with the recently-released GNOME 48. For context, I can see by checking the stats on my laptop computer proper now that Ubuntu 24.04 LTS presently makes use of kernel version 6.8. There are plans for backporting 6.14 to 24.04 My desktop laptop working Garuda Linux, which is understood for being extra bleeding edge, runs a modified model

Talking of launch dates, you may word that this kernel launch was a day later than anticipated. Linus Torvalds owned as much as that truth being his personal fault, remarking about his procrastination within the kernel release announcement that:

I’d wish to say that some essential last-minute factor got here up and delayed issues. However no. It’s simply pure incompetence.

If you wish to study extra, you may take a look at the 6.14 git commits. There are overal 5,000 adjustments in complete, so when you do some Linus-style procrastination on finding out them, I might not blame you.

Supply: OMG! Ubuntu