linux-kernel - Re: Drop support for x86-32

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Date:	Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:54:40 -0400
From:	Brian Gerst <brgerst@...il.com>
To:	wbrana <wbrana@...il.com>
Cc:	Martin Nybo Andersen <tweek@...ek.dk>,
	linux-kernel <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: Drop support for x86-32

On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 1:22 PM, wbrana <wbrana@...il.com> wrote:
> x86-32
> - is deprecated since Linux supports X32.
> - will slow down adoption of X32 - there won't be X32 versions of many
> software - if new ABI was added, old one should be removed

You misunderstand what the X32 ABI is.  It's 64-bit code (allowing use
of the extended register set) that uses 32-bit pointers to save
memory.  It has nothing to do with 32-bit kernels, and is completely
optional.

> - wastes time of developers who can spend their time supporting X32
> instead of x86-32 or support x86-64 only as 99% of users will be able
> to run x86-64 software if x86-32 will be dropped

The x86-32 arch is mature and well maintained, and shares so much in
common with x86-64, that there is little to be gained by dropping
kernel support.

> - wouldn't be dropped this year, but there should be plan when it will
> be dropped e.g. when Windows 9 will be released

Windows mostly sells with new hardware, and by the time win9 is
released all new hardware designed for it will be 64-bit capable.
Therefore it is not *profitable* for Microsoft to continue to develop
a 32-bit version.  That doesn't apply to Linux.  Linux is installed on
a broad range of hardware, new and old.  In general, we don't drop
support for hardware unless there is nobody willing to maintain it.

--
Brian Gerst
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