The latest version of the GNU Compiler Collection, GCC 15, has removed support for older platforms such as Xeon Phi and Oracle Solaris 11.3. The decision to drop Itanium support was followed by Intel’s engineer Hao Chen Jiang’s patch, signaling the end for the Xeon Phi architecture that was once expected to compete with Nvidia and AMD. Similarly, Solaris 11.3 is also being phased out, with Oracle discontinuing major support and only offering support for newer SPARC hardware.
Intel’s Xeon Phi platform, originally designed with high hopes for visual hardware development, was ultimately abandoned in 2017. This decision to drop support for Xeon Phi and Solaris 11.3 reflects a trend towards phasing out legacy processor architectures in favor of more modern and efficient technologies. Oracle’s move to cut support for Solaris 11.3 further solidifies the trend of discontinuing older platforms in the tech industry.
The decision to remove support for Xeon Phi and Solaris 11.3 has sparked some controversy, with some developers opposing the move. However, the industry seems to be moving towards newer technologies, leaving these older platforms behind. The deprecation of SPARC support by Illumos due to the high cost of hardware also contributed to the decline of Solaris 11.3 and older platforms.
In conclusion, the removal of support for Xeon Phi and Solaris 11.3 in GCC 15 reflects a larger trend in the tech industry of phasing out legacy processor architectures in favor of more modern and efficient technologies. This shift highlights the importance of staying current with technological advancements to remain competitive in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
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https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/23/gcc_15_nukes_larrabee/