Subject: Alpine Linux 3.23.0 Released

From: Natanael Copa <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2025 22:12:08 +0100

We are pleased to announce the release of Alpine Linux 3.23.0, the first
release in the v3.23 stable series.

Highlights
==========

* Linux kernel 6.18	https://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_6.18
* GCC 15		https://gcc.gnu.org/gcc-15/changes.html
* LLVM 21		https://releases.llvm.org/21.1.2/docs/ReleaseNotes.html
* Node.js (LTS) 24.11	https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v24.11.1
* Rust 1.91		https://blog.rust-lang.org/2025/11/10/Rust-1.91.1/
* Valkey 9.0		https://valkey.io/blog/introducing-valkey-9/
* ZFS 2.4.0-rc4		https://github.com/openzfs/zfs/releases/tag/zfs-2.4.0-rc4
* Crystal 1.18		https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/releases/tag/1.18.0
* Docker 29		https://docs.docker.com/engine/release-notes/29/
* .NET 10.0		https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/whats-new/dotnet-10/overview
* GNOME 49		https://release.gnome.org/49/
* Go 1.25		https://go.dev/blog/go1.25
* ISC Kea 3.0		https://www.isc.org/blogs/kea-3-0/
* KDE Plasma 6.5.3	https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.5.3/
* LXQt 2.3.0		https://lxqt-project.org/release/2025/11/05/release-lxqt-2-3-0/
* OpenJDK 25		https://openjdk.org/projects/jdk/25/
* Perl 5.42		https://perldoc.perl.org/perl5420delta
* PHP 8.5		https://www.php.net/releases/8.5/en.php
* PostgreSQL 18		https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/postgresql-18-released-3142/
* Qt 6.10		https://www.qt.io/blog/qt-6.10-released
* Sway 1.11		https://github.com/swaywm/sway/releases/tag/1.11

Significant changes
===================

apk-tools v3
------------

Version 3 of `apk` is now ready for Alpine v3.23.0. This should be a safe and
seamless upgrade from v2, but might have breaking changes if you use `libapk`.
The package manager has been upgraded to v3, but keeping the v2 index and
package format for now.

See apk-tools v3.0.0 release notes[1] for more details.

[1]: https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/apk-tools/-/releases/v3.0.0

linux-stable replaces linux-edge
--------------------------------

`linux-stable` replaces `linux-edge` with an identical configuration as
`linux-lts` while following stable instead of long-term releases. On systems
with `linux-edge` installed, apk automatically installs `linux-stable` as a
replacement.

See the wiki[2] for details about this release.

[2]: https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Release_Notes_for_Alpine_3.23.0

Upgrade notes
=============

As always, make sure to use `apk upgrade --available` when switching between
major versions.

We previously announced[3] that 3.23 would be /usr-merged, but due to technical
challenges this has been postponed to a later release. A new timeline[4]
will be published later.

[3]: https://alpinelinux.org/posts/2025-10-01-usr-merge.html
[4]: https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/infra/alpine-mksite/-/merge_requests/113

Users with / and /usr on separate filesystems (which is unsupported) will still
need to take special care. See the wiki[5] for details.

[5]: https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Release_Notes_for_Alpine_3.23.0#Important_changes

Changes
=======

The full list of changes can be found in the wiki[6], the git log[7] and
the bug tracker[8].

[6]: https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Release_Notes_for_Alpine_3.23.0
[7]: https://git.alpinelinux.org/aports/log/?h=v3.23.0
[8]: https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/aports/issues?scope=all&utf8=%E2%9C%93&state=closed&milestone_title=3.23.0

Credits
=======

Thanks to everyone sending patches, bug reports, new and updated aports, and to
everyone helping with documentation, maintaining the infrastructure, or
contributing in any other way!

Thanks to our sponsors for providing us with hardware and hosting.

- GIGABYTE			https://www.gigabyte.com/
- Linode			https://linode.com
- Fastly			https://www.fastly.com/
- IBM				https://ibm.com/
- Equinix Metal			https://www.equinix.com/
- vpsFree			https://vpsfree.org
- AlpineLinuxSupport.com	https://alpinelinuxsupport.com/
- CloudOn			https://cloudon-one.com/
- Osso 				https://www.osso.nl/
- HorizonIQ			https://www.horizoniq.com/
- Cherry Servers		https://cherryservers.com/
- NetMountains			https://netmountains.de/