TrèsFluke

I compiled my first Linux kernels on a 486.

I recall I would set it to compile a kernel build, and go for a walk to pick up lunch at Subway. By the time I'd get home it would be just about finished.

#Linux

https://www.theregister.com/2026/04/06/patch_to_end_i486_support/

Patch to end i486 support hits Linux kernel merge queue

: After a year of patchwork, maintainers look ready to start retiring 486-class CPUs

The Register
Apr 6 at 9:35pmWeb
Show threadTrèsFluke1d ago

However it's not the end of the road for 486s! They are pefectly capable of running FreeDOS as well. Not an emulator, actual code running on metal, DOS.

You can check out that project here:

https://www.freedos.org/

#FOSS #FreeDOS

The FreeDOS Project

Show threadTrèsFluke1d ago

IIRC my distro hopping journey looked something like: Debian, Slackware, Red Hat, Corel, Suse, Mandrake, Ubuntu, Mint.

There were several stops in Windows land, Win 3.11/95…Win2K, XP, and 10. #Linux

Show threadJoeHenzi5d ago
@TresFluke oh nooooo they can't kill i486 support
Show threadTrèsFluke5d ago

@JoeHenzi But they aaaaaaare.

Linus doesn't want to support it anymore, same as 386.

Show threadGary Houston5d ago
@TresFluke I had a 33MHz 486, 8MB RAM, ~220 MB hard drive. One of the nicknames of Emacs was "eight megabytes and constantly swapping."
Show threadTrèsFluke5d ago
@ghouston Ah yes the editor that thinks it's an operating system.
Show threadmathew4d ago
@TresFluke You can still have that kind of experience if you install Gentoo. (I tried it just recently.)
Show threadTrèsFluke4d ago
@mathew No, thank you. While I enjoyed kernel spelunking in my younger years, I'm thankful the common kernel builds of today are sufficient for my needs.