Linux 7.2 drops legacy support for DoubleTalk PC ISA speech synthesizer
Key takeaways
- Add ARY News on Google AAResize Linux would ideally support every piece of technology ever created indefinitely.
- Occasionally, support for outdated hardware gets removed from the kernel, and it is interesting to see which technologies Linux supported over the years before being discontinued.
- According to Phoronix, a new update has been approved for the Linux 7.2 kernel that removes the driver specifically developed for the RC Systems DoubleTalk PC ISA speech synthesizer card.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize Linux would ideally support every piece of technology ever created indefinitely. The challenge, however, is that maintaining this extensive code is resource-intensive, and often, no one benefits from it. As a result, developers spend significant effort keeping legacy hardware compatible with Linux, even if it is rarely or never used.
Occasionally, support for outdated hardware gets removed from the kernel, and it is interesting to see which technologies Linux supported over the years before being discontinued. One such example is the legacy RC Systems DoubleTalk PC ISA speech synthesizer card driver, introduced in 1991 and now being deprecated in Linux 7.2. Fortunately, this change does not affect users still relying on these cards.
According to Phoronix, a new update has been approved for the Linux 7.2 kernel that removes the driver specifically developed for the RC Systems DoubleTalk PC ISA speech synthesizer card. This hardware dates back 35 years, making the driver quite old.