Which Kernel Version?

[jaylittle]

What kernel version will be available on the Pinebook Pro when it ships?  Will it be a mainline kernel or will be it be patched?  It it will be patched, is there an expectation of getting the Pinebook Pro fully operational with a mainline kernel in the near future?

---

Note: Based on my research of the RockPro64 (the SOC the Pinebook Pro is based on), it appears that kernel 4.4.x is the latest version available. If that's accurate for the Pinebook Pro, is there currently any ongoing effort to get the kernel upgraded to something more recent (e.g. something in the 5.x range)?

[fire219]

It is already almost fully functional with mainline.
Where you saw 4.4 is the old Rockchip BSP (Board Support Package) kernel, with all the original blobbed drivers.

[jaylittle]

That is excellent news. Thanks!

[stuartiannaylor]

That is excellent news.  Thanks!

I would say at a guess they will opt for 5.3 as that is where the RK3399 mainline is more or less finalised and also its likely to be the most recent LTS kernel.

So with the release timing of both they may even opt for a 5.3-rc especially if you are going for a Manjaro version where KDE & Lxqt are looking extremely good.

[jaylittle]

So as I currently run Arch on all of my x86 laptops (insert Arch user joke here), Manjaro with a mainline kernel and fully supported hardware would be especially sweet in my book. This is just getting better and better.

[Eggmonkey]

Fantastic that it will be running a mainline kernel.
Any update on exactly which kernel it ships with?
My understanding is that is will be running Debian 9, right?
I'm no Debian user - all I know is they tend to run older kernels and software (and Debian runs slowly *Debian joke inserted*)
Another Manjaro fan so will look at available builds, just gotta get my head round this arm architecture and the different graphics drivers etc.

I bought yesterday, and all looks exciting anyway.

[danielt]

Fantastic that it will be running a mainline kernel.
Any update on exactly which kernel it ships with?
My understanding is that is will be running Debian 9, right?

I bought yesterday, and all looks exciting anyway.

There's a subtle difference between "running mainline" and "mainline runs". The default image runs Debian 9 on a fairly old kernel (v4.4 32-bit IIRC).

[Eggmonkey]

Fantastic that it will be running a mainline kernel.
Any update on exactly which kernel it ships with?
My understanding is that is will be running Debian 9, right?

I bought yesterday, and all looks exciting anyway.

There's a subtle difference between "running mainline" and "mainline runs". The default image runs Debian 9 on a fairly old kernel (v4.4 32-bit IIRC).

I know what you're saying danielt.
Thanks for the information.

[VoxUnius]

I wonder what's the status of Mali graphics driver? Do we have to rely on Panfrost or continue using older driver that still supports X? Or switch to Wayland?

[Arwen]

One of my goals is to get the 64 bit ARM kernel working. Preferably on a recent LTS kernel, like 4.19.

But, who knows how successful I / we will be?

May have to run current, less stable kernels until all the drivers are mainlined.