The release of Linux kernel version 6.15 marks a crucial milestone in the evolution of open source operating systems in 2025. Capitalizing on a strong commitment to integrating modern technologies, this update illustrates developers’ ability to combine performance, compatibility, and innovation. In particular, the significant introduction of a driver based on Rust, the safe memory language, marks a decisive turning point for the Linux ecosystem. Hardware improvements, file management optimizations, and increased compatibility with recent architectures strengthen Linux’s position against its commercial and open source competitors such as Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora. These advancements explain why this release is generating such attention in the technical community.
Linux kernel 6.15: a major step forward thanks to the integration of Rust into the kernel
The release of Linux 6.15, announced by Linus Torvalds on May 25, 2025, represents a milestone for open source and the Linux community. The most tangible new development is the official integration of a Rust driver into the main kernel, specific to the DRM window and graphics manager, called NOVA. This development responds to a long-standing demand from developers and users eager to ensure increased security and performance.
The NOVA driver, dedicated to the new generation of Nvidia GPUs, is designed to replace the older open-source Nouveau driver, often criticized for its limited performance and stability. Compatibility primarily concerns GPUs from the RTX 2000 “Turing” series and later. This change is not just a simple addition; it is a strategic step in the modernization of the Linux kernel, which now sees a fusion of performance and security, vital for mission-critical applications and Artificial Intelligence.
This shift to Rust, a language that prioritizes secure memory and avoids the classic vulnerabilities associated with C, is a victory for the Linux ecosystem. The community can now leverage more resilient code while maintaining the unparalleled performance expected of a modern kernel. The success of this integration will encourage other developers to favor Rust for other components, with a long-term goal of securing the kernel.
Hardware and Software Improvements in Linux 6.15
In addition to the announcement of a Rust driver, Linux 6.15 is part of a broader hardware support strategy, particularly for architectures such as ARM, Apple M1, and certain recent Intel and AMD processors. Managing new hardware becomes more fluid and efficient, especially for Fedora, Debian, or Arch Linux users seeking broader compatibility. Expanded support also extends to features like Apple’s Touch Bar and USB profiles specific to new generations of devices.
Improvements to file and storage management are particularly notable. The updated Btrfs file system, adopted in distributions such as openSUSE and Fedora, offers advanced features such as faster compression with Zstd, better cache management, and improved direct I/O processing. This optimizes file management performance, as demonstrated by the ability to delete an 80 GB file in just 1.6 seconds, compared to several minutes previously. These innovations contribute to a more responsive and reliable user experience.
| Key Improvements | Impacts |
|---|---|
| Increased support for ARM, M1, and new processors | Broader compatibility and improved performance |
| File system optimizations (Btrfs, exFAT) | Increased speed for file operations and advanced management |
| New APIs and networking mechanisms (zero-copy, TCP) | Faster networks, lower CPU load |
Concrete examples of hardware improvements
- Dedicated Touch Bar driver support for 2016-2020 MacBook Pro enthusiasts
- Efficiency improvements for Nvidia and Apple M1 GPUs
- Integration of new battery management features
- Official removal of support for pre-Pentium x86 CPUs, confirming a shift towards faster and more secure modern architectures
Increased performance and kernel optimizations with Linux 6.15
The performance improvements in this release are particularly noticeable for management-related operations File and network performance. The new cluster-discard management in exFAT results in dramatic speed gains, particularly for frequently unmounted storage systems. According to several tests, deleting an 80 GB file sees a significant reduction in processing time. These gains are the result of optimized batching management, avoiding lengthy and inefficient clinical operations.
In terms of networking, the introduction of a zero-copy mechanism via io_uring allows data to be transferred directly to user memory, thus minimizing latency and CPU load. The new TCP option also offers more precise control over reconnection attempts and timeouts, which are so valuable for modern servers or data centers.
Benchmarks conducted on this kernel suggest improved performance for web servers running Nginx, particularly in the context of HTTPS security. Analyses have confirmed that Linux 6.15 offers higher throughput while maintaining optimized resource consumption. Advanced memory management, with the new “dmem” cgroup and fragmentation prevention via the defrag_mode sysctl, enhance stability for critical applications and virtualized environments.
| Areas of Improvement | Results |
|---|---|
| Fast deletion of large files | Up to 250x time reduction |
| Network optimization (io_uring, TCP) | Reduced latency and increased throughput |
| Memory management (dmem, defrag) | Increased stability for intensive workloads and virtualization |
Future Outlook and Continuous Integration
The feature upgrade in Linux 6.15 is not just a one-time milestone. Linus Torvalds and his collaborators have planned a series of successive revisions to strengthen stability and compatibility. Massive community contributions have resulted in 14,612 changes, making this the largest release since the debut of Kernel 6.7. Collaboration on open source code promotes faster maintenance, enhanced security, and compatibility with increasingly innovative hardware. Developers have already begun working on developments, including further optimizing AI support on ARM and x86 architectures, and improving thermal management in portable environments. The final step is rigorously testing these new features via experimental branches, which will be integrated in the coming months, contributing to an ever-more powerful and secure Linux platform.