Confused about the current stable kernel version

[doraeric]

I recently noticed in the Manjaro Settings GUI that a new kernel version 6.16 was available, and at the same time I saw that 6.15 had already reached EOL, so I upgraded. However, after updating, I found that different packages reference different kernel versions.

Here are the current versions listed on https://manjaristas.org/branch_compare:

• linux-api-headers

  • stable: 6.16-1
  • testing: 6.16-2
  • unstable: 6.16-2

• linux-meta

  • stable: 6.15-1
  • testing: 6.15-1
  • unstable: 6.16-1

• linux-virtualbox-host-modules-meta

  • stable: 6.15-1
  • testing: 6.15-1
  • unstable: 6.16-1

• linux-headers-meta

  • stable: 6.15-1
  • testing: 6.15-1
  • unstable: 6.16-1

So, which one is currently the intended stable kernel version? Is it 6.15 or 6.16?
If it’s 6.15, why does 6.16 show up in the Manjaro Settings GUI? Wouldn’t that cause conflicts with linux-api-headers?

Also, is linux-headers-meta tied to Arch’s linux-headers? Does it automatically update along with the kernel version? I couldn’t find documentation about this package.

I’m not using the LTS kernels because of Wi-Fi driver issues (I had disconnection problems before), so I’m not considering those for now.

[Aragorn]

@doraeric

So, which one is currently the intended stable kernel version? Is it 6.15 or 6.16?
If it’s 6.15, why does 6.16 show up in the Manjaro Settings GUI? Wouldn’t that cause conflicts with linux-api-headers?

6.16 is the next Stable kernel — note: this is not the same thing as an LTS kernel, the latest of which at present time is 6.12 — but the linux-meta package makes manually choosing a kernel unnecessary.

At present time, 6.15 is scheduled for removal upon the next Stable Update, but right now and until then, it is still supported for those who’ve got it installed by way of the linux-meta package. When 6.15 then gets removed, linux-meta will automatically install 6.16 instead.

@doraeric

Also, is linux-headers-meta tied to Arch’s linux-headers? Does it automatically update along with the kernel version? I couldn’t find documentation about this package.

It follows the kernel version installed by linux-meta. So when linux-meta gets updated and replaces 6.15 with 6.16, the linux-headers-meta package will replace the 6.15 headers with the 6.16 headers.