The Linux 7.4 Merge Window Is Easily the Largest in Kernel History

Linux 7.4’s merge window set a record for kernel development activity, with 19,671 Git commits accepted before the expected first release candidate. A comparison of merge windows dating back to Linux 3.1 in 2011 shows that previous totals generally stayed around 13,000-14,000 commits or fewer. The recent pace had already climbed: Linux 7.3 reached 16,267, then 7.4 rose well beyond that. A few additional commits could still arrive before the merge window closed.

The surge reflects both Linux’s growing use across consumer devices and data centers and increased activity linked to AI and large language models. Kernel maintainers have been overwhelmed by AI-generated bug reports and proposed patches, adding to the flow of changes. The pressure extends beyond merge windows: Linux 7.3 was the first full kernel cycle to exceed 20,000 commits, with 20,260 from v7.2 to v7.3, while Linux 7.4 approached that figure during its merge window alone. The figures place the record in context and suggest that rising AI-related submissions are contributing to a sustained increase in kernel development workload.