Re: Evolution of Linux kernel sizes

From: Wolfgang Denk
Date: Wed Nov 27 2013 - 10:17:39 EST


Dear Geert,

In message <CAMuHMdUr2Vr9+STwcYf1PcB=PF+u3SJxU3LYnzqQ+vdbDsp71A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> you wrote:
>
> Below are the static kernel sizes (as reported by "size") for m68k
> multi-platform kernels (m68k/multi_defconfig), for kernel versions
> 2.6.28 to 3.12:
>
> text data bss dec hex filename
...
> 4010686 220476 190220 4421382 437706 vmlinux-v3.12

It's even more dramatic if you look further back. The U-Boot README
still has examples of 2.4.4 kernels for PowerPC _including_ network
support:

-> tools/mkimage -l examples/uImage.TQM850L
Image Name: 2.4.4 kernel for TQM850L
Created: Wed Jul 19 02:34:59 2000
Image Type: PowerPC Linux Kernel Image (gzip compressed)
Data Size: 335725 Bytes = 327.86 kB = 0.32 MB
Load Address: 0x00000000
Entry Point: 0x00000000

resp. the same kernel using an uncompressed image:

Image Type: PowerPC Linux Kernel Image (uncompressed)
Data Size: 792160 Bytes = 773.59 kB = 0.76 MB

Those were the days then, 13 years ago...

Today:

Image Name: Linux-3.12.0-11101-gfe9baba
Created: Wed Nov 27 15:05:33 2013
Image Type: PowerPC Linux Kernel Image (gzip compressed)
Data Size: 1509145 Bytes = 1473.77 kB = 1.44 MB
Load Address: 00000000
Entry Point: 00000000

Image Type: PowerPC Linux Kernel Image (uncompressed)
Data Size: 3172240 Bytes = 3097.89 kB = 3.03 MB

Compressed: 1509145 / 335725 = 4.50
Uncompressed: 3172240 / 792160 = 4.00



[1] http://git.denx.de/?p=u-boot.git;a=blob;f=README#l5142

Best regards,

Wolfgang Denk

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