x86 evolution for segmentation and paging
Project / Subsystem
binutils / binutils
Date
2026-09-07
Proposer
Christian Ludloff <ludloff@gmail.com>
Source type
public_inbox
Consensus
Proposed
Sentiment
—/10
Technical tradeoffs
- • Simplifies assembler and linker code by removing support for legacy modes.
- • Removes support for older x86 processors and operating systems that rely on segmentation.
- • Requires new tooling and compiler support to target the simplified architecture.
All attributes
- project
- binutils
- subsystem
- binutils
- patch_id
- —
- discussion_id
- CAKSQd8XJVf3jq8boOJcOE_GzcNvcqMUHeW-whbw3uGnVE2iN_w@mail.gmail.com
- source_type
- public_inbox
- title
- x86 evolution for segmentation and paging
- headline
- x86 evolution: segmentation and paging removal
- tldr
- Proposal to drop x86 segmentation and compatibility modes for a new PM64-only world.
- proposer
- Christian Ludloff <ludloff@gmail.com>
- consensus
- Proposed
- outcome
- proposed
- sentiment_score
- —
- technical_tradeoffs
-
- • Simplifies assembler and linker code by removing support for legacy modes.
- • Removes support for older x86 processors and operating systems that rely on segmentation.
- • Requires new tooling and compiler support to target the simplified architecture.
- series_id
- —
- series_role
- standalone
- series_parts
- []
- tags
-
- • x86
- • segmentation
- • paging
- • architecture evolution
- • binutils
- bugzilla_url
- —
- date
- 2026-09-07T00:00:00.000Z
x86 evolution for segmentation and paging
This discussion proposes a significant shift in x86 architecture support within binutils, aiming to remove legacy segmentation and compatibility modes. The changes are motivated by the advent of Intel’s FRED and APX specifications, and a new “PM64-only” operating mode. The proposal details the removal of numerous segment registers, table registers, and associated instructions, effectively simplifying the x86 architecture for future processors.