Write a Linux kernel improvement with Claude Code
Linus Torvalds is working on a sizable Linux kernel patch written with Claude Code, per the headline.
What they did
Torvalds pushed a branch called noref-filemap-read-with-llm to his main kernel repository. It aims to let the page cache be read without folio references, because small reads of one file from many threads contend on folio reference counting. His patch message says Claude Code, working under his direction, produced the code, the test programs, the review and the first draft of the cover letter. He ran the measurements on his own machine.
How it went
Phoronix calls the performance impact significant, pointing to a results chart. The patches are only on a branch so far, and whether they get merged for the Linux 7.4 window is still open.
Worth knowing
The author's disclosure in the patch message shows how Torvalds credited the AI: it did the code, tests and review, while the measurements were run by him personally.
Labels
His patch message says Claude Code, working under his direction, produced the code, the test programs, the review and the first draft of the cover letter.
His patch message says Claude Code, working under his direction, produced the code, the test programs, the review and the first draft of the cover letter.
Torvalds pushed a branch called noref-filemap-read-with-llm to his main kernel repository.
It aims to let the page cache be read without folio references, because small reads of one file from many threads contend on folio reference counting.
Phoronix calls the performance impact significant, pointing to a results chart.
The “Material” label failed its quality check and is not used for selection.
Details
- Agents
- Claude Code
- Source
- Hacker News
- Source date
- Oct 12, 2026
- Accounts
- 2
- In registry since
- Oct 14, 2026