Linux is finally dropping support for ancient hardware, and it's about time
Linux 7.1 is entering the release candidate phase and will drop support for the i486 CPU, a processor originally released in 1989. This move aims to streamline kernel development by removing outdated hardware support that is no longer practical or widely used. While some see this as a loss of Linux's ability to run on nearly any hardware, the change is viewed as necessary to improve efficiency and focus development resources.
- ▪Linux 7.1 has entered the release candidate phase and will remove support for the i486 CPU.
- ▪The i486 processor, released in 1989, is being dropped due to impractical maintenance costs and lack of modern usage.
- ▪Maintaining support for obsolete hardware consumes developer resources that could be better used elsewhere.
- ▪Few, if any, users are likely updating kernels on i486 systems, and such machines are unlikely to be connected to the internet.
- ▪The author argues that while some legacy support is valuable, removing outdated components benefits overall kernel development.
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