Linus Torvalds has removed the Bcachefsโ fileโข system fromโ the main Linux kernel advancement โคtree,citing โconcerns over its code quality and โคmaintainability. The โคdecision follows โคyears of development andโ integration โฃefforts for โtheโค next-generation, copy-on-wriet file โคsystem designedโ for high performance and data integrity.
the โremoval signals โขa setback for Bcachefs and its developer, Kent Overstreet, and highlights the critically โimportant hurdles faced โฃby new โfile โsystems seeking inclusion inโ theโข Linux kernel. Major tech companies-including Google (Ext4), Meta and SUSE โ(Btrfs), and Oracle โand Red Hat (XFS)-invest millions annually in hardwareโ and personnel to test and refine โขthe file systems alreadyโฃ embeddedโ in Linux.Successfully navigating kernel inclusion requires not only innovativeโ technology but also the resources for โขextensive, real-world testing and ongoing maintenance to meet the โขdemands of a diverse userโข base. File systems are notoriously โcomplex, and achieving stability across a wide rangeโ ofโข applications typically โฃdemands years of refinement, mirroring the development trajectories โฃof established file systemsโ like Btrfs, Ext4, โฃReiserfs, and โฃXFS.
Torvalds’ decision comes despite recent claims from Overstreetโข that the โคcore Bcachefs code had reached โขa “stable” โฃstate. however, the kernel maintainer expressed reservations about the project’s overall quality โคand long-term sustainability, suggesting it wasn’t โready for the โขrigorous demands of inclusionโ inโ the mainline kernel. โ The future of โBcachefs now rests on continued external development and โpotential re-submission once concerns are โขaddressed.