I would like to better understand how linux kernel / patches releases work.
For example, if I open www.kernel.org today (Dec 12, 2013) the main download (yellow button) takes me to "linux-3.12.5.tar.xx" that is the latest stable. This is clear.
But if I move into "https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/", I can find (among many archives):
(1) linux-3.12.tar.gz
(2) patch-3.12.5.gz
(3) patch-3.12.gz
So the first question: is "linux-3.12.5" = (1)linux-3.12 "+" (2)patch-3.12.5?
If so, what is "patch-3.12"(3) for ? is "linux-3.12" = linux-3.11 "+" (3)patch-3.12 like above?
Thanks!