Some observations regarding the ongoing x86-32 CPU configuration cleanups

[Luís Mendes]

Hi everyone,

First of all i would like to say that i both admire and appreciate all
your hard work with this lovely OS. I do understand that maintaining
some systems can cause additional burden on maintenance, but there are
some aspects that i would like you to reconsider.

I am writing because I  believe that some aspects have not been taking
into consideration regarding the removal of the 80486 32-bit support
from the kernel, namely:
- There is this active Linux distribution:https://tinycorelinnux.net/
and the Damn Smal Linux DSL (https://damnsmalllinux.org).
- There are also these CPUs: https://www.vortex86.com/products/Vortex86EX
- There may be only a few vintage 486 systems still working, but there
are also other new x86 CPUs systems, especially in FPGAs like the
https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/ao486_MiSTer which is a 486SX core
that operates at 90MHz and can use up to 256MB RAM memory. There are
plans to update this CPU IP core to become a full 486DX core, by
adding a FPU unit to it and would turn this into a usable Desktop
system with tineycorelinux. There is a considerable retro-computing
community that utilizes the AO486 core on the MiSTer FPGA platform.
There is even a Voodoo 3dfx accelerator card:
https://github.com/victor-fisyuk/voodoo-fpga-public.

Overall i just want to inform you that some new x86 32-bit systems are
still being sold brand new and can be utilized with Linux. I would
like that you consider this with regard to how much 80486 support
should be removed from Linux.

Personally i do have plans to extend the AO486 core to have the FPU
and would like to be able to run a modern Linux on it. It would have
entertainment and educational applications. With tinycoreinux it can
have a usable desktop.


Thanks & Best regards,
Luís Mendes