From owner-freebsd-arch@freebsd.org Wed Nov 11 16:32:45 2015 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-arch@mailman.ysv.freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) by mailman.ysv.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2C393A2C302; Wed, 11 Nov 2015 16:32:45 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jau789@gmail.com) Received: from mail-wm0-x232.google.com (mail-wm0-x232.google.com [IPv6:2a00:1450:400c:c09::232]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 (128/128 bits)) (Client CN "smtp.gmail.com", Issuer "Google Internet Authority G2" (verified OK)) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id C72B11396; Wed, 11 Nov 2015 16:32:44 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jau789@gmail.com) Received: by wmvv187 with SMTP id v187so64066232wmv.1; Wed, 11 Nov 2015 08:32:43 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=content-type:mime-version:subject:from:in-reply-to:date:cc :content-transfer-encoding:message-id:references:to; bh=W63TpRQgiN2SM7t49g1Qoh/S15MOE1DTG9r1yLeXz6g=; b=xz+wTtU9qWZVnRlyzKveGrxpe0dBAUIvGjJx7vyQTHLgDJ78nmygLTokXrUGcGvrqX YIXAoiCG1crVkcxoXiGHh24+EWhF3Of6S8ZgEG/Pi7SoRfw27dO14sAEdQ7zof4gqcPt +cQ23BbpIcyuVFxbJMhn2XnCgF8HHzzAAIf+iY96c0N3oqpqEhswbSgedKn+UEgbgdNO UMRH2ybBpah8HLColZ405AbgBtVcdJExy80s0vJxC6ivmQ9TP9U5KFSIWJXSTMFLup4T x2zwPhE5RnhxrPPtNab+CmLP+REfEtN4hTa89Gvki/uBnfO5yZN3WYUKWz26BO019OWa z5Zw== X-Received: by 10.194.209.195 with SMTP id mo3mr10715346wjc.16.1447259563141; Wed, 11 Nov 2015 08:32:43 -0800 (PST) Received: from [192.168.1.193] (xdsl-205-163.nblnetworks.fi. [83.145.205.163]) by smtp.gmail.com with ESMTPSA id v191sm26052997wmd.24.2015.11.11.08.32.41 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=OTHER); Wed, 11 Nov 2015 08:32:42 -0800 (PST) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mime-Version: 1.0 (1.0) Subject: Re: Sparc64 doesn't care about you, and you shouldn't care about Sparc64 From: Jukka Ukkonen X-Mailer: iPad Mail (13B143) In-Reply-To: Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:32:37 +0200 Cc: Michelle Sullivan , Anna Wilcox , freebsd-arch , Marius Strobl , Sean Bruno , Jordan Hubbard , sparc64@freebsd.org, Warner Losh Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: References: <64302b19-9f33-4267-af44-7fc30ea4bf3d@email.android.com> <56434F34.6040707@sorbs.net> To: Adrian Chadd X-BeenThere: freebsd-arch@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.20 Precedence: list List-Id: Discussion related to FreeBSD architecture List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2015 16:32:45 -0000 > I'm all for keeping an architecture like sparc around, as long as > there's active development and active users. MIPS has both. ARM has > both. Powerpc has both. Sparc is missing some active developers, but > it has plenty of FreeBSD users that speak up (and more users that only > speak up privately.) So, if you want to see sparc64 support continue, > this requires a grass roots effort to get more development happening - > either users need to step up, or someone has to start contributing > money. Right, I am one of those who until now have only said something privately. So, I think it is time for me to say this on a bit more public forum. I could test something for sparc64 when I have a suitable moment. I have an idle V240 which I intended to be a compatibility test system anyhow. I cannot promise to do much of active development, though. Obviously some compatibility patches now and then is not going to be a problem. This being a hobby only for me and my real daily life being elsewhere, most of the heavy lifting would have to be done by others. I like the idea, though, that the sparc64 MMU keeps one on tip-toe with the memory alignment. In fact I see that as the biggest benefit in saving freebsd/sparc64. Additionally there is the admittedly very small possibility that Oracle might change its mind about how to position the hardware on the market, if several open OS environments keep the architecture supported to some level. So, if you accept little occasional help with testing and patching, I'm in. --jau