Linux may drop legacy network drivers amid surge in AI-generated bug reports

Linux developer Andrew Lunn proposed removing support for old ISA and PCMCIA Ethernet drivers from the kernel.

The patch set would cut more than 27,000 lines across 40 files, targeting long-obsolete hardware from vendors like 3Com, Novell, Cirrus Logic, and Fujitsu.

The push comes as AI-generated and fuzzing-driven bug reports are adding heavy maintenance burden for open-source volunteers.

The debate highlights a broader tradeoff between backward compatibility and the cost of keeping ancient code alive.