Linux developers begin removing Intel 486 support — Linus Torvalds says 'zero real reason' to keep it

Linux kernel developers have started removing Intel 486 support by patching out 486 Kconfig options.

The patch by Ingo Molnar aims to remove CONFIG_M486SX, CONFIG_M486 and CONFIG_MELAN and is targeted for Linux 7.1.

Linus Torvalds said there is "zero real reason" to keep 486 support and developers say legacy x86-32 compatibility code creates maintenance overhead.