Re: [PATCH] compiler.h: Raise minimum version of GCC to 5.1 for arm64

[Linus Torvalds]

On Thu, Jan 14, 2021 at 12:18 AM Ard Biesheuvel <ardb@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> So if the arguments are piling up, what is holding us back, other than
> inertia?

I think we can most certainly just try increasing the minimum version
to 5.1 in the next merge window and see.

> Note that banning 4.9 for arm64 and banning it in general should be
> two different changes in any case, as the former will need to be
> backported to -stable kernels as well.

Yes. The arm64 issue is a clear and known bug, plus I suspect gcc-4.9
is ridiculously old in the arm64 ecosystem anyway.

So the arm64 issue is a bug-fix, the follow-up of just upgrading gcc
requirements in general would be a "keep up with the times, and allow
those variable declarations in loops".

            Linus