Linux 3.3 Released with Android Components

We are big fans of Linux on the desktop and Android. So when we heard that the newest Linux Kernel Linux 3.3 will have components found in Android, our excitement level went through the roof. The Android components that have being added to the new Linux Kernel are truly nothing that exciting, but seeing components from the most popular Linux-based OS in the world making its way to the Kernel is exciting enough.

Recently, Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux Kernel, announced that some of Android’s code is, in fact, a part of Linux Kernel 3.3, which is great news for the plethora of Linux projects out there, and Linux overall. As you should already know, Android is based on Linux, but Google was just taking from the Kernel without adding back to the cause. Now, it appears things are changing for the better.

The Android codebase is considered to be a fork of the main Linux Kernel which is overseen by Linus Torvalds. This move will see both codebase merging, making things easier for both Google and other Linux projects. Previously, developers had to work with two different codebase, making life a little difficult as programmers would have to be moving from one place to the other. Now Android and Linux have become one, programming will become a lot easier and streamlined, which would benefit Google and the open source community in a big way.

We should also let you know that Android codes were a part of the Linux Kernel before, but they were pulled back in 2010 due to disagreements between Google and Kernel developers. Hopefully, things will last longer this time around.

Most of the code that is being added was already there in the past, so not much of anything new was added. Nevertheless, seeing Android and Linux kiss and make-up gives us goose bumps.

(reported by Vamien MacKalin, edited by Surojit Chatterjee)