It is not a joke, it is what we have read in the LKML. Linus Torvalds has shown his particular mail about the launch of Linux 4.19-rc4 to be marked on the calendar of all linuxers not because it is a special kernel, but because it is the one that coincides with Linus B. Torvalds's announcement to temporarily leave the Linux project. As for the new Release Candidate 4, it is not a particularly large release or with too many problems, everything has gone more or less as planned and it comes with updates mainly in the network drivers, and other subsystems as usual.
However, this note in the LKML It is accompanied by some apologies from Linus Torvalds for his behavior in the public and private discussions that have been made regarding kernel development. And he doesn't just apologize to the kernel developers that he may have affected or offended, as he has explained. It seems that something happened last summit has made him understand, or rather, have made him understand that his language and way of answering can be offensive or damage the feelings of the developers as we saw in the case of Sarah Sharp and many others.
Therefore, Linus Torvalds announces his retirement, leaves the Linux project temporarily. How long it will be out we don't know, but we do know that it will take over some other project like when it left it momentarily to create the git tool. In addition, he will reflect on his verbal aggressiveness throughout all this time and the damage to the feelings produced, and he has even hinted in the LKML that he could create some mail filter to avoid those offensive words. Honestly, the creator's email is rare, an almost unknown Linus has been shown and being honest about what has made him reach this point.
It seems that everything comes from the last annual summit which brings together the kernel maintainers, some thirty of the kernel developers and main maintainers meet behind closed doors to discuss non-technical development issues. Apparently Linus forgot and had reserved those dates to have a vacation with his family. That caused the organization to delay the event and Linus suggested that the event be held without him, but they refused and then:
“But this whole situation then started a completely different kind of discussion. […] I realized that I had not quite understood some of the people involved. […] My frivolous attacks on emails were neither professional nor necessary. Especially the times that I took it to the personal level. In my search for a better solution this made sense to me. Now I know it wasn't right and I'm really sorry. […] A moment to look in the mirror. […] I will take a break and receive help to understand people's emotions and how to respond appropriately. […] This does not mean that I am burned and need to leave. Quite the contrary. I want to continue with this project to which I have dedicated almost three decades. »
As we can see, he even recognizes that he could receive help psychological ... Now what? Well, the German and right-hand man of Linus, Greg Kroah-Hartman will take the leadership of the project and everything will continue without the creator, until he decides to return ... When? We do not know.
What a tabloid headline ... and fake you've put up.
The power of the transnationals is very great. The rest is talkative of straw!