After 6 years and over 360 commits, Linux 7.2 finally removes “a persistent source of bugs”
After 6 years and over 360 commits, Linux 7.2 finally removes “a persistent source of bugs”
Publish Date: 2026-06-22 01:59:00
Source Domain: www.xda-developers.com
Summary
- Linux 7.2 removes the buggy strncpy API after a long cleanup process.
- The cleanup spanned over six years and hundreds of commits; Justin Stitt alone added 211 of them.
- strncpy could leave destinations non-NUL or zero-pad unnecessarily; its removal should boost kernel stability.
The world of Linux kernel development never sleeps. Linux 7.1 has only just been released, and people are already getting code added to Linux 7.2’s build. Fortunately, because open-source software’s development tends to be, you know, open, we can see all the changes Linus Torvalds is accepting to the Linux 7.2 kernel as they happen.
One change that just made the cut marks the end of a six-year-long battle and 362 commits, with the removal of the strncpy API. It’s good news for everyone, as strncpy was causing far more problems than it was worth, and should hopefully result in a more stable kernel overall.
Linux 7.2 finally waves goodbye to the strncpy API
I have a feeling it won’t be missed
As spotted by Phoronix, a new update has been merged into the Linux 7.2…
