[ Thanks to Jason
Greenwood for this link. ]
“The Linux kernel development process is akin to a game of
leapfrog. Even-numbered kernels (v2.0, v2.2, v2.4) are stable
kernels, and odd-numbered kernels are unstable, or development,
kernels. As soon as a kernel is released as an even number, the
next odd numbered kernel is born, and historically, the previous
even-numbered kernel is placed into maintenance mode.“Thus, with the advent of v2.6, Linux kernel v.2.4 will be
maintained with security patches and bug fixes, but official
releases of the v2.4 kernel will not contain new features; major
updates will be handled in the v2.6 branch. Also following the
official release of v2.6, the v2.7 kernel will soon be born and
become the rough framework for the as-yet unspecified v2.8
kernel…”