Ubuntu to decommission SPARC port, IA64 port in jeopardy

It was decided at the Ubuntu Developer Summit, that support for the SPARC port of Ubuntu would be discontinued. An announcement on the Ubuntu developers list, made by Scott James Remnant on behalf of the Ubuntu Technical Board, explained that the decision to decommission the SPARC port when Ubuntu 10.10 "feature freezes" later in the year was driven by the desire to offer users the "same level of quality and support they receive from using one of the official architectures". According to Remnant, the usage and maintenance of the SPARC port has "now fallen below the minimum level we expect to be an Ubuntu port". If users or developers wish the port to continues, Remnant suggests that they group together and take over maintenance of the port before the feature freeze point.

The IA64 port is "in better shape" but with no active maintenance team, the Ubuntu technical Board is worried the quality will decline. No specific deadlines for the maintenance of the IA64 port to gain active support have been given but, despite there being benefits to both the kernel and tool-chain of Ubuntu in the port being continued, Remnant says "if a maintenance team does not step forward, this port will be decommissioned".

(djwm)