What is this?

pf-kernel is a desktop-oriented Linux kernel fork. Its name is by no means related to BSD Packet Filter. "pf" stands for "post-factum", the author's nickname.

Join #pfkernel @ Freenode.

OK, what's there in your patchset?

Currently, pf-kernel incorporates:

• stable kernel update
• graysky's GCC patch
• -O3 patch
• userspace-assisted KSM
• BFQ improvements
• kernel and initramfs ZSTD compression support
• FUTEX_WAIT_MULTIPLE mechanism
• FSGSBASE patchset
• proactive memory compaction patch
• random fixes here and there

As you may see, it improves interactiveness and performance, saves some memory and fixes nasty bugs.

How to get it?

Latest release is: v5.7-pf4, patch (applies to bare kernel only with no stable patches)

You can also check full list of all releases.

To get a specific patch, use the following URL template:

https://github.com/pfactum/pf-kernel/compare/v<base>...v<base>-pf<release>.diff

But I want binary builds!

There are Arch Linux official binaries available for some architectures (64-bit only):

• generic
• Intel Core 2
• Intel Silvermont
• Intel Skylake

Where is Fedora, Gentoo etc?

Some unofficial packages are maintained here:

• Gentoo

Please don't ask me to fix or update them, I just host some links. But if you know that some other distributions also support pf-kernel, let me know.

I saw linux-pf package in AUR, is it supported?

No, since it is maintained by other people. But I still leave some links to it here:

• linux-pf with some enhancements
• linux-pf-lts if you are too lazy to use latest version
• linux-pf-git to be on the very edge

I have some idea for you!

Please, let me know.

Reminder

GPLv2 says: this program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Keep this in mind.