Linux 7.1 removes thousands of obsolete input hardware drivers

7 articles · Updated · Phoronix · Apr 24

The latest update deletes 3,374 input driver entries, including support for bus mice, InPort, Logitech, Palm Top PC 110, ICS MicroClock MK712, CT82C710, and OLPC HGPK protocols.
Most removed drivers supported hardware unused for decades, such as ISA add-in cards and early touchpads, while some protocols have been broken for years without user complaints.
These changes reflect Linux's ongoing effort to streamline the kernel by eliminating legacy code, especially as support for older architectures like i486 is phased out in upcoming releases.

As Linux drops i486 support, are retro PCs now officially cut off from modern software?

Which part of the Linux kernel is next on the chopping block for legacy code?

How is AI forcing developers to abandon support for older hardware in the Linux kernel?

Will this driver purge make the Linux kernel significantly smaller and faster for users?

With this massive cleanup, what surprising new features are also arriving in Linux 7.1?

Is Linux trading its legendary backward compatibility for better security and maintainability?