486 Dead: Kernel Maintainers Declare War on Vintage Processors, Citing PS2's 53 Million Transistors vs. 1.2 Million
The Linux kernel is actively signaling the removal of support for the i486 CPU architecture in mainline versions, affecting modern development paths.
The argument splits into two camps. One side, backed by figures like Powderhorn and AndrewZabar, demands abandonment, framing the maintenance of 486 support as a drag on modern x86-32 development. They point to the massive technological gap—comparing 486's 1.2 million transistors to PS2's 53 million—as justification for cutting support. Conversely, users like empireOfLove2 argue the removal is reckless, pointing to an 'ungodly insane' quantity of operational industrial control systems still dependent on this ancient hardware.
The core takeaway is that while the mainline kernel team views this as a necessary product pruning—a decision of 'mainstream inertia' according to Feyter—the open nature of Linux suggests the functionality isn't technically impossible to revive. The immediate reality is that non-mainline, specialized distributions will keep the support alive far longer than the kernel commit cycle suggests.
Key Points
Maintaining 486 support slows development for modern hardware.
Powderhorn argues support requires 'compatibility glue' that detracts from developing modern features.
The issue is one of product decision, not technical impossibility.
Feyter states the removal is a 'core product decision' made by mainline developers.
Industrial systems will keep 486 running long after mainline abandonment.
empireOfLove2 notes the existence of specialized, unmanaged industrial hardware still relying on 486.
The obsolescence date extends far past initial kernel changes.
Redjard suggests the functional end-of-life for supported systems might push past 2032.
The historical precedent shows mainline focus never was on 16-bit architecture.
mkwt points out that the Linux kernel has never prioritized 16-bit processors.
Source Discussions (5)
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