Recently, the Linux kernel community has taken a significant step by officially establishing a 'Project Continuity Plan.' This plan serves as a structured framework to guide the succession process in the unlikely event that Linus Torvalds, the long-standing top-level maintainer, steps down from his role in the future. The genesis of this plan can be traced back to the Maintainer Summit held in December 2025, where initial discussions and formative decisions took place, culminating in the creation of the formal document known as the 'Linux Kernel Continuity Document.'

In the event of an emergency necessitating the activation of the succession protocol, the organizer of the most recent Maintainer Summit is tasked with convening the relevant participants within a 72-hour window. This gathering will involve collaborative deliberations with the Linux Technical Advisory Board (TAB). Should there be no Maintainer Summit conducted within the preceding 15 months, the TAB will take the responsibility of determining the appropriate participants for the meeting. During this crucial assembly, a comprehensive plan for assuming control of the top-level kernel codebase will be devised. The primary objective is to safeguard the long-term, healthy progression of both the project and the broader community. Furthermore, within two weeks of the meeting, the next steps and the chosen successor (if applicable) will be communicated to the lower-tier communities, ensuring transparency and continuity.