[johnklos]

So Arnd Bergmann thinks that all future systems, embedded included, will have 64 bit CPUs? Or will embedded just stop using Linux and move to the BSDs?

[SAI_Peregrinus]

Embedded has already split: You've got 8-bit, 16-bit, and some in-between MCUs that never ran Linux in the first place. You've got 32-bit MCUs that never ran Linux in the first place. You've got FPGAs that never really even run software. And you've got "application processors" like the ARM Cortex-A series that get used for "embedded Linux" in some cases. ARM Cortex-A series won't release any more 32-bit ISAs, so that mostly just leaves RISC-V as a potentially-relevant 32-bit ISA that might get new CPU designs. That's a small niche within an already small niche in embedded. Most embedded systems aren't using Linux, they're using an RTOS or bare-metal code.

[adgjlsfhk1]

8 and 16 bit are dying pretty rapidly. You can make some pretty tiny 32 bit CPUs (e.g. https://github.com/YosysHQ/picorv32 is a RV32 with only a couple thousand transistors). On a budget optimized process node (e.g. 28nm), the core is absolutely tiny and all of the cost comes from the (s)ram.

[jtolmar]

From the article:

> The kernel is still adding support for some 32-bit boards, he said, but at least ten new 64-bit boards gain support for each 32-bit one.

And

> To summarize, he said, the kernel will have to retain support for armv7 systems for at least another ten years. Boards are still being produced with these CPUs, so even ten years may be optimistic for removal. Everything else, he said, will probably fade away sooner than that.

So, no, he does not think that at all.