Linux Kernel Developers Begin Process to Deprecate x32 ABI Support
Linux kernel maintainers have submitted patches to deprecate and eventually remove the x32 ABI to reduce maintenance overhead and codebase complexity.
New patches have been submitted to begin deprecating and eventually removing x32 Application Binary Interface support from the Linux kernel.
Originally introduced to let developers run programs using 32-bit pointers while leveraging the 64-bit instruction set and extra registers of x86-64 architecture, x32 kept pointers at 32 bits to reduce memory usage and cache footprints. Limited adoption and maintenance over the years led maintainers to conclude that the support overhead outweighs its utility.
The removal aims to reduce kernel code complexity by eliminating specialized paths requiring ongoing developer effort. These patches represent the first step in a multi-stage pruning process.
Developers maintaining systems using x32 binaries must transition workloads to standard 64-bit environments. Reducing specialized ABIs helps manage the long-term maintenance burden.