The Linux kernel consists of many subsystems that make a wide range of software and hardware configurations possible, allowing people like you and me to have a reliable experience on the various distributions based on it.
All of it is thanks to the countless open source contributors who make this happen, with Linux kernel maintainers acting like maestros in an orchestra, overseeing all the happenings of the subsystems or areas they are assigned to.
Sadly, there is some bad news for one such component of the Linux kernel.
What's Happening: The sole maintainer of the wireless networking driver, Kalle Valo, has announced that he is stepping down from his role.
Alongside this, he is also moving away from the co-maintainer roles for the Qualcomm ATH12K Wireless Driver, Qualcomm Atheros ATH10K Wireless Driver, Qualcomm Atheros ATH11K Wireless Driver and Atheros ATH Generic Utilities.
As of now, Kalle has not provided a specific explanation for his departure, leaving us to only speculate about the reasons behind it.
What Next: He has mentioned that Jeff Johnson will continue maintaining the ATH10K, ATH11K, and ATH12K drivers and that, currently, there is no replacement in place to take over his role.
However, he has also said that anyone interested in stepping into this role can reach out to him directly, or alternatively, Johannes Berg, who has been involved with the wireless subsystem of Linux for quite some time now.
In the end, it is always sad to see someone step away from something that has added so much value to the Linux kernel. While it is unclear why Kalle is leaving, we can only thank him for his hard work all these years.
Sourav Rudra
