After letting users decide the version numbering of the Linux kernel software, as Softpedia reported two weeks ago based on the Linus Torvalds’ Google+ poll for Linux kernel 3.20/4.0, the time has come for a change, as Linus Torvalds was proud to announce today the immediate availability for testing of the first RC (Release Candidate) version of the forthcoming Linux 4.0 kernel.

This RC1 version is the first development release of what will become Linux kernel 4.0 in approximately 3-4 months. The final version of Linux kernel 4.0 will most probably arrive until summer 2015, when every kernel maintainer will go on vacation. However, Linus Torvalds tries to assure people that a version number change won’t bring any major features or break compatibility with previous releases.

“Because the people have spoken, and while most of it was complete gibberish, numbers don't lie. People preferred 4.0, and 4.0 it shall be. Unless somebody can come up with a good argument against it. On the other hand, the strongest argument for some people advocating 4.0 seems to have been a wish to see 4.1.15 - because ‘that was the version of Linux skynet used for the T-800 terminator,’” says Linus Torvalds in the mailing list announcement.

Live patching will be implemented in the final release of Linux kernel 4.0

Without further ado, you can download the Linux kernel 4.0 RC1 right now via Softpedia or directly from the kernel.org website, whichever suits you best. We remind you that it’s an unstable version that should not be installed on production machines. According to Linus Torvalds’ notes, it is a fairly small release, but not much smaller than the usual RC versions.

Prominent features include various vm cleanups, and the unification of the PROTNONE and NUMA handling for page tables. The final release of Linux kernel 4.0 will also include the highly anticipated live patching infrastructure.