Not only release notes, he's still actively contributing! From said release notes:

> Linus Torvalds (2):

> mm: avoid leaving partial pfn mappings around in error case

> Linux 6.11

Wonder what kind of succession is in place. I'd assume there's a legal framework around it to ensure continuity with something so important.

I mean, it's GPL. If something were to happen to him, anyone could just start their own fork. There would likely be some competition between forks for a while before two or three emerge as the successors eventually.

Linux is basically a national security issue at this point with how much runs on it. Linus is an interesting dictator because he's not bound to any corporation. I think some kind of kernel throne wars would be terrible for the community and could result in Red Hat or some other corporate overlord owning the kernel (not literally because of trademarks but effectively through the release and mainline).

Yep. I imagine many Jia Tan's are lining up for dictator/maintenance roles.

Yes, but also most people would probably not want that to happen to the Linux kernel. That's why people wonder about contingencies.

“I'm still working on it. It's been 25 years. I can do this for another 25. I'll wear them down.” —Linus Torvalds

He's got at least another decade in him