Messages in this thread | | | Date | Thu, 14 Jun 2001 07:31:44 +0100 | From | Russell King <> | Subject | Re: obsolete code must die |
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On Wed, Jun 13, 2001 at 08:44:11PM -0400, Daniel wrote: > Anyone concerned about the current size of the kernel source code? I am, and > I propose to start cleaning house on the x86 platform. I mean it's all very > well and good to keep adding features, but stuff needs to go if kernel > development is to move forward. Before listing the gunk I want to get rid > of, here's my justification for doing so: > -- Getting rid of old code can help simplify the kernel. This means less > chance of bugs. > -- Simplifying the kernel means that it will be easier for newbies to > understand and perhaps contribute. > -- a simpler, cleaner kernel will also be of more use in an academic > environment. > -- a smaller kernel is easier to maintain and is easier to re-architect > should the need arise. > -- If someone really needs support for this junk, they will always have the > option of using the 2.0.x, 2.2.x or 2.4.x series. > > So without further ado here're the features I want to get rid of: > > i386, i486 > The Pentium processor has been around since 1995. Support for these older > processors should go so we can focus on optimizations for the pentium and > better processors. > > math-emu > If support for i386 and i486 is going away, then so should math emulation. > Every intel processor since the 486DX has an FPU unit built in. In fact > shouldn't FPU support be a userspace responsibility anyway? > > ISA bus, MCA bus, EISA bus > PCI is the defacto standard. Get rid of CONFIG_BLK_DEV_ISAPNP, > CONFIG_ISAPNP, etc > > ISA, MCA, EISA device drivers > If support for the buses is gone, there's no point in supporting devices for > these buses. > > all code marked as CONFIG_OBSOLETE > Since we're cleaning house we may as well get rid of this stuff. > > MFM/RLL/XT/ESDI hard drive support > Does anyone still *have* an RLL drive that works? At the very least get rid > of the old driver (eg CONFIG_BLK_DEV_HD_ONLY, CONFIG_BLK_DEV_HD_IDE, > CONFIG_BLK_DEV_XD, CONFIG_BLK_DEV_PS2) > > parallel/serial/game ports > More controversial to remove this, since they are *still* in pretty wide > use -- but USB and IEEE 1394 are the way to go. No ifs ands or buts. > > a.out > Who needs it anymore. I love ELF.
Is this one big joke? It looks like it to me.
-- Russell King (rmk@arm.linux.org.uk) The developer of ARM Linux http://www.arm.linux.org.uk/personal/aboutme.html
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