Re: GRUB 2.12 release - update

[Daniel Kiper]

Hey,

Quick update...

On Thu, Dec 22, 2022 at 07:53:33PM +0100, Daniel Kiper wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Quick update below...
>
> On Wed, Oct 26, 2022 at 04:52:09PM +0200, Daniel Kiper wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > We are getting closer to the 2.12 release. Sadly we still do not have
> > many of important patch sets in the tree. So, I am going to spend more
> > time on reviews in the following weeks. Below you can find my list of
> > key patch sets which should land in the release:
> >   - Dynamic allocation of memory regions and IBM vTPM v2,
> >   - Unify ARM64 & RISC-V Linux Loader,
> >   - Add support for LoongArch,
> >   - plainmount: Support plain encryption mode,
> >   - Glenn's tests fixes.
> >
> > Of course all patches which got my RB or are under review will be merged 
> > too.
> >
> > There is also "nice to have" list but I do not consider lack of this
> > patch sets as release blockers:
> >   - Add support for EFI file system transposition,
> >   - term/serial: Add support for PCI serial devices,
> >   - Add MMIO serial ports support and SPCR detection,
> >   - Glenn's gdb patch set.
> >
> > I hope I will be able to review and merge all patch sets from first list
> > during November. Then if everything goes well we will make code freeze
> > in December and release at the beginning of next year, preferably in 
> > January.
>
> Most of the patches from the list above are now under review or (almost)
> ready for merging. I will push all patches which got my RB recently
> after holidays.
>
> (Sadly) we have to add UEFI NX patches to the list above due to
> introduction of new requirements "for all applications to be signed by
> the Microsoft third-party Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)
> Certificate Authority (CA)" [1]. I hope relevant patches will appear on
> the grub-devel in January or February.

After discussing the UEFI NX support with distros GRUB maintainers I am
dropping the feature from 2.12 release requirement. Simply speaking it
is still not ready... :-(

Most of the patches from the list above are in upstream right now. I am
still working on getting some important features into 2.12. Though at
this point things look good and I am planning to do the code freeze in
May. So, if you think we should still merge some patches drop me a line
ASAP.

> > I am considering to not block merges for tests and documentation during
> > code freeze.
>
> Nothing changes here...

Still no changes here...

Expect more updates in May...

Daniel

> [1] 
> https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/hardware-dev-center/new-uefi-ca-memory-mitigation-requirements-for-signing/ba-p/3608714