Re: [PATCH] x86: Deprecate a.out support

[Matt Turner]

On Mon, Mar 11, 2019 at 12:47 PM MÃns RullgÃrd <mans@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Linus Torvalds <torvalds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
> > On Mon, Mar 11, 2019 at 11:08 AM MÃns RullgÃrd <mans@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >>
> >> The latest version I have is 5.1, and that uses ECOFF.
> >
> > ECOFF _is_ a.out as far as Linux is concerned.
> >
> > So Linux basically treats ECOFF as "regular a.out with just some
> > header extensions".
> >
> > We don't have any specific support for ECOFF.
> >
> > I _think_. Again, it's been years and years.
>
> Right, which is why killing a.out entirely would have the unfortunate
> effect of also removing the OSF/1 compatibility on Alpha.
>
> If we are to support Alpha as an architecture at all, it makes sense to
> support the things people actually use it for.

I agree. I was not aware that a.out was effectively the same as ECOFF.