Kernel on Omid Farhang

How I Learned My Linux Machine Has Been Compressing Memory for Years Without Me Knowing

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0330

After 15 years on Linux, I discovered zswap had been compressing inactive memory on my Manjaro laptop all along. A practical guide to checking zswap, zram, and memory compression on Linux, macOS, and Windows — plus a timeline of how we got here.

Building a Tiny Linux App to Explain Desktop Stutter

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:38:00 +0330

A hands-on Rust/Linux app walkthrough: build a small TUI that reads /proc and /sys, parses Pressure Stall Information, and turns kernel signals into an explanation for desktop stutter.

How to Upgrade Ubuntu Kernel

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 23:55:43 +0330

Ubuntu by default uses LTS Kernels:

Canonical provides long-term support (LTS) kernels for Ubuntu LTS releases. Canonical also provides interim operating system releases with updated kernels every 6 months.

For customers and business partners that don’t have specialised bleeding-edge workloads or latest hardware needs, the latest LTS release ”-generic” kernel is the best option for them such as the 4.15 default kernel in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Customers who need the latest hardware support capability can install the latest HWE kernel such as the ones contained in interim releases, keeping in mind the shorter support lifespan associated with these kernels (9 months). HWE kernel customers are recommended to upgrade to a newer LTS release that supports their hardware and/or software needs as soon as it is available. Another option for customers is to use point releases. For example, there is an 18.04.4 point release as of February 2020, which includes an updated 5.3.x kernel but is also considered LTS, exactly like the original GA 4.15 kernel in 18.04.