LINUX REMOVES STRNCPY API AFTER 6-YEAR EFFORT

The strncpy function, commonly used for bounded string operations in C, has been a source of bugs and security issues for decades. Linux developers identified it as a problematic API that could lead to buffer overflows and improper null-termination of strings. The removal process involved systematically replacing all instances of strncpy with safer alternatives throughout the kernel codebase. Developers transitioned to functions like `strscpy()` and `strtomem()`, which provide better guarantees around null-termination and buffer handling. This effort required coordination across multiple kernel subsystems and contributions from numerous developers. The final elimination represents a significant security hardening step for the kernel. The move aligns with broader industry efforts to modernize C APIs and reduce common sources of memory-safety vulnerabilities. Other projects have similarly deprecated strncpy in favor of safer alternatives.