Dear Armbians, welcome to this week’s newsletter! Here, you’ll find updates on the latest release and community contributions.

Armbian Rolling Releases: What You Need to Know

Armbian offers rolling releases for users seeking the most up-to-date features and bug fixes. These rolling releases are available at the bottom of the official Armbian download pages. However, it’s important to remember that while these versions are functional, they are not as thoroughly tested as the stable releases and therefore are not recommended for production environments.

If you need to switch between stable and rolling releases, check out armbian-config.

Recent Changes

The Armbian team has been hard at work making significant updates. Here’s what was changed in the past week (detailed):

Rockchip64 Bootable in VMs

A major update now makes Rockchip64 bootable in virtual machines (VMs). This enhancement is a big step forward for developers and users working with Rockchip-based boards in virtualized environments.

Kernel Module Compression Changes

A contribution to the Armbian kernel changed the forced uncompressed modules option for kernels version 6.12 and above. This update should streamline kernel management and improve overall system performance.

HexagonFS Firmware for Elish Added

An important addition to the firmware repository includes HexagonFS firmware for the Elish platform. This new firmware broadens hardware compatibility, helping users integrate newer hardware more seamlessly into their Armbian setups.

Khadas Rewards Community Contributors

We are excited to announce that Khadas has generously rewarded outstanding contributors to the Armbian community!

  • Khadas Mind Standard goes to @Heisath
  • Khadas Mind Premium goes to @iav

Their hard work and dedication have helped improve Armbian for all users, and we thank them for their efforts! If you’d like to become a contributor or participate in future reward programs, don’t hesitate to get involved in the Armbian community and make your mark.

Congratulations once again to @Heisath and @iav!

Things to Keep in Mind

Rolling Releases Are for the Bold

Rolling releases are intended for users who are comfortable with potential instability in exchange for access to the latest features and updates. They undergo limited testing, so it’s crucial to check the automated tests before making the switch to ensure it meets your system requirements.

Stay Up-to-Date

For users who prefer stability over cutting-edge features, the stable Armbian Linux release continues to offer well-tested and robust builds that are ideal for production systems.