Post #1845925

Quick reminder wrt removing features or drivers from the #Linux #kernel, like currently considered in the networking subsystem and a few other areas[1]: The "no regressions" rule still applies – so nothing people still use should be removed (or the removal should be reverted in case it turns out people still use it). This is why the network drivers 3c59x and xirc2ps, MVME147 that were on the chopping board will remain[2]. But there are a few caveats, some of them: * "people still use" means "in production with recent kernels" – public or private museums can use old kernel versions. * You have to make your case against the removal (and might have to help testing going forward) – which is what a few people did successfully for the drivers mentioned above[3]. * Timing is important. It's best to speak up before something is removed. Chances that a removal is reverted are likely good if you speak up in the mainline cycle where the removal was performed. It might work in the following cycle, too (e.g. in the 9 weeks after after a new mainline release where something was removed is out). But if you speak up later, you are likely too late -- which is why you want to use the latest mainline and not jump from one longterm release to the next once a year, as then it most likely is too late when you notice a removal. * Exceptions from the "no regressions" rule made, for example in case something is seriously broken, a huge security risk/maintenance burden, and basically unfixable at the same time; but these are rare and individual judgement calls, so it is best to not worry about. [1] https://lwn.net/Articles/1068928/ [2] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20260422-v7-0-0-net-next-driver-removal-v1-v2-0-08a5b59784d5@lunn.ch/ – [3] https://lore.kernel.org/all/41d9fe43-9aa5-49b4-89cd-9aa13e4e4ea9@lunn.ch/, https://lore.kernel.org/all/408d1987-6ecb-4d3b-afed-8e202c8ff21d@lunn.ch/, and https://lore.kernel.org/all/f902909f-7eb9-4b7a-bb01-82f680cfe695@lunn.ch/ #LinuxKernel