On Fri, Apr 01, 2005 at 01:52:18AM +0100, Ciaran McCreesh wrote: > > Abstract > ======== > > The x86 and x86-64 architectures currently use different ``KEYWORDS`` values. > This GLEP proposes a fix. > > Motivation > ========== > > Currently, Gentoo uses the ``x86`` keyword to indicate the architecture > used by IBM PCs with Intel 80x86 CPUs (and, of course, the clones). The > ``x86-64`` architecture, which is ``x86`` with a small number of > extensions for 64-bit numeric and 40 bit address support, is denoted by > the confusing ``amd64`` keyword. >
Blame AMD, they're the ones who called the technology AMD64 :) > This situation is less than ideal for several reasons. > > Confusing and Inaccurate Name > ----------------------------- > > * Intel also produce x86-64 capable ('enabled' in PC marketing speak) > CPUs. It is likely that other vendors will follow suit at some point in > the future. > ..which are still using AMD's AMD64 technology > * AMD also produce non-x86 (full) 64bit CPUs, which are covered by the > mips keyword rather than the amd64 keyword. > Because they're based on mips technology, not amd64 technology, and are never referred to in any AMD documentation as 'AMD64' At any rate, I think this should be left up to the AMD64 team and not forced on them via a GLEP. I don't think any architecture team appreciates being told what's good for it by people who haven't been dealing with the bugs :) -- Jon Portnoy avenj/irc.freenode.net -- gentoo-dev@gentoo.org mailing list