Linux kernel drops AppleTalk support

8 hours ago

Linux kernel ends AppleTalk support in version 7.2, removing nearly 4k lines of code.
AppleTalk was phased out two decades ago, largely replaced by TCP/IP, with remnants in Apple Bonjour.
AI-generated patches flooding mailing lists for rarely-used protocol led to removal due to maintenance burden.
Jakub Kicinski announced removal, noting Apple dropped AppleTalk in MacOS X 10.6 in 2009 and recent AI fixes.
Code retained at GitHub for enthusiasts; uAPI kept temporarily to avoid controversy.
Linux 7.1 previously removed ARCnet, ISDN, ham radio, and other old drivers due to AI-generated patches.

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