Re: [PATCH 1/1] [x86] Configuration options to compile out x86 CPU support code

[Bodo Eggert <7eggert@gmx.de>]

Thomas Petazzoni <thomas.petazzoni@free-electrons.com> wrote:

> This patch adds some configuration options that allow to compile out
> CPU vendor-specific code in x86 kernels (in arch/x86/kernel/cpu). The
> new configuration options are only visible when CONFIG_EMBEDDED is
> selected, as they are mostly interesting for space savings reasons.

> +menuconfig PROCESSOR_SELECT
> +     default y
> +     bool "Supported processor vendors" if EMBEDDED
> +     help
> +       This lets you choose what x86 vendor support code your kernel
> +       will include.
> +
> +config CPU_SUP_INTEL_32
> +     default y
> +     bool "Support Intel processors" if PROCESSOR_SELECT
> +     depends on !64BIT
> +     help
> +       This enables extended support for Intel processors
> +

I don't think having a generic kernel for only Intel CPUs makes much sense,
and OTOH, if you optimize for e.g. Athlon CPUs, you're likely to not need
Intel code on that machine - even on desktop systems.

What about an option to "Include code for CPUs from all supported vendors",
invisible and y for generic kernels?