The information on how Linux is developed is very scattered over the Internet and difficult to grasp as a whole, but you can read about the Linux development process here in this Mediawiki.
The Linux Kernel development process shares some characteristics with the development processes found in the software industry, such as reviews by peers, software configuration management, bug management system. It has also innovative features, which makes it unique:
- Development is made in the open. The source code is open. Changes to the sources are published on the Internet and reviewed by the Linux community before being included in the mainline source tree.
- A rapid release cycle.
- A more stable environment created by Category:Linux Distributions