Why is the Linux kernel still compiled with gnu89?

Question

(Closed). This question is opinion-based. It is not currently accepting answers. question from:https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66045925/why-is-the-linux-kernel-still-compiled-with-gnu89

Answer 1

Until 2018, the kernel supported being compiled using gcc 3.2. It was raised to gcc 4.9 in 2018 and now, mandating gcc 5.1 is being discussed, as you can see here: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-arm-kernel/CAK8P3a2J8fLjPhyV0XUeuRBdSo6rz1gU4wrQRyfzKQvwhf22ag@mail.gmail.com/

This would allow using -std=gnu11 and as Linus points out in https://lore.kernel.org/linux-arm-kernel/CAHk-=whnKkj5CSbj-uG_MVVUsPZ6ppd_MFhZf_kpXDkh2MAVRA@mail.gmail.com/ this would mainly bring variable declarations in for-loops.