Re: [PATCH 00/18] Make common x86 arch area for i386 and x86_64 - Take 2

Andi Kleen
2007-03-14T20:07:11Z

> the x86_64 and i386 trees have diverged quite a bit though, so this will
> be a major logistical undertaking. And with Andi opposed to
> fundamentally it it also lacks a bit of manpower i guess :-/

I'm not fundamentally opposed, just sceptical on the effort:gain ratio.

> Andrew's laptop only half a dozen times! ;) But .. in the long run, it's
> alot easier to think about unified code. 32-bit x86 will certainly stay
> with us for at least 10-20 years, and the best model for maintainance is
> having one codebase.

Not sure -- i'm often glad I don't have to care about all the old 32bit
systems on x86-64. I have no problem with modern 32bit x86 systems,
but old x86 tends to be very different from new x86. And all the old erratas
are scary.

-Andi