Qualcomm engineer questions Linux LTS model as AI coding agents accelerate patches

At the Linux Plumbers Conference in Prague, Qualcomm engineer Khem Raj questioned whether Linux Long Term Support (LTS) releases remain suitable in the generative AI era. He pointed out that AI coding agents are accelerating patch submissions to the Linux kernel and related open-source projects, creating a significant burden for maintainers and distribution vendors.

Raj argued that rolling-release models could help reduce the need for backporting patches, keep closer alignment with upstream, and enable faster security fixes. However, he also noted challenges around certification and qualification in a rolling-release approach.

He suggested that the community should rethink the practicality of LTS versions, especially for embedded Linux distributions and smaller maintenance communities, and mentioned that generative AI tools could potentially assist in maintaining LTS releases.