Linux Kernel continues to include Bcachefs file system

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In the world of Linux, a significant debate has arisen surrounding the future of Bcachefs, a high-performance file system. This dispute revolves around the integration of new Bcachefs code, with Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, playing a central role.

Currently, users already using Bcachefs can safely switch to Linux kernel versions 6.17 and later. However, Torvalds has not integrated the changes that Bcachefs developer Kent Overstreet submitted for Linux version 6.17. Instead, the Bcachefs code currently in the kernel will not be significantly altered for the time being.

This approach avoids a "regression" that Torvalds strongly dislikes in Linux development. The exact meaning of Torvalds designating the Bcachefs code in Linux as "externally maintained" remains unclear, as he has not elaborated on it. Some smaller distributions may incorporate Overstreet's newer Bcachefs code to specifically target Bcachefs fans.

However, it's unlikely that these distributors will incorporate Overstreet's newer Bcachefs code due to maintenance complications. More kernel developers may refuse to accept bug reports from users of distributions that incorporate Overstreet's Bcachefs code.

The removal of the experimental Bcachefs support in Linux is off the table for now. A future maintainer of the Bcachefs code in Linux is not clearly identified, but the person would need to overcome challenges such as integrating updates without complicating kernel maintenance, gaining acceptance from core Linux developers, and dealing with potential rejection of bug reports caused by unofficial patches.

Torvalds made the current approach to Bcachefs in consultation with other central Linux developers. Major distributors like Debian, Fedora, and openSUSE will continue to use the Bcachefs included in Linux or completely disable it in their kernels.

The impact of this step on the Linux world remains to be seen. Overstreet has clashed with Linus Torvalds over submitting larger changes during the stabilization phase of new kernel versions. In the past, there was a Bcachefs co-developer who was willing to act as an intermediary between Overstreet and Torvalds, but they left after a dispute with Overstreet.

Kernel updates should work fine for Bcachefs users until they start using kernels with newer Bcachefs code maintained externally. However, the use of kernels with newer Bcachefs code maintained externally could potentially make incompatible changes to the filesystem structures, which may lead to errors that shouldn't occur in the official kernel.

Overstreet has also argued with other kernel developers, including by changing their Linux kernel code without adequate consultation. This approach may lead to further complications and divisions within the Linux community.

As the situation unfolds, it's crucial to monitor developments closely and consider the potential implications for users, developers, and the Linux ecosystem as a whole.