AMD Loses Some Linux Kernel Developers

[curaga]

Uh, what? Are you high?

That has absolutely nothing to do with the kernel's cpu support. Without the kernel's cpu support:

a) it may not boot
b) you may not get any power-saving
c) you may not get full performance
d) you may not get sensor data
...

[Marc Driftmeyer]

It so happens that the kernel runs your cpus, not LLVM.

It just so happens that besides FreeBSD that Linux is working on making LLVM/Clang first class to build their kernel and since you mention kernel more and more of what the kernel does via messaging will be to pass parallel processing loads on to kernels built in OpenCL.

[Marc Driftmeyer]

AMD driver sucks anyways. Anyone who want decent Linux support should get an nvidia card.

I have the nVidia driver binaries on one system. They are fine/solid with Debian. I'm no fan of nVidia's OpenCL stack, direction with OpenCL and their lack of joining HSA.

[curaga]

There is tons of work from AMD going into LLVM/Clang that includes Linux.

Losing 3 dudes with Linux kernel experience is a pot in a giant pee bowl. Relax.

It so happens that the kernel runs your cpus, not LLVM.

[arokh]

AMD driver sucks anyways. Anyone who want decent Linux support should get an nvidia card.

[Marc Driftmeyer]

There is tons of work from AMD going into LLVM/Clang that includes Linux.

Losing 3 dudes with Linux kernel experience is a pot in a giant pee bowl. Relax.

[Lynxeye]

We don't know what is happening without input from those 3 developers or others inside AMD.

It's very well possible that AMD is consolidating multiple teams into one, and the tasks of (parts of) OSRC Dresden might be moving elsewhere, to some other country. Some people might agree to move there to keep their job, but others will probably prefer to stay where they are (e.g. because they have a family, kids have their school & friends in Germany, etc.). And I'm sure there are many other reasonable explanations possible.

Again: we don't know what is happening without input from those 3 developers or others inside AMD, and without any more news, everything in this thread is speculation...

To end your speculation: AMD closing down the OSRC in Dresden and it's not just those 3 guys. I would call it very unlikely that those guys prefer to relocate to another continent, just to keep their job within a struggling company.

[JanC]

Folks, please use the proper term, out of respect for the affected people. You get "fired" when you are terminated for performance or similar reasons. You are "laid off" when your position becomes redundant, or the company has no funds to pay your salary.

Cutting Linux support is crazy for a CPU company, if you ask me. Mobile computing, in particular, is being heavily dominated by Linux (android). Oh well. I guess I have no option rather buying Intel next time, and as much as some of you already said, I hate fueling a monopoly (even though I love Intel's Linux support).

We don't know what is happening without input from those 3 developers or others inside AMD.

It's very well possible that AMD is consolidating multiple teams into one, and the tasks of (parts of) OSRC Dresden might be moving elsewhere, to some other country. Some people might agree to move there to keep their job, but others will probably prefer to stay where they are (e.g. because they have a family, kids have their school & friends in Germany, etc.). And I'm sure there are many other reasonable explanations possible.

Again: we don't know what is happening without input from those 3 developers or others inside AMD, and without any more news, everything in this thread is speculation...

[curaga]

Well they have to make cuts somewhere and right now, like it or not, with AMD being dominated in the server arena, linux does not make them a lot of money.

It should still make them more than Windows Server.

[bug77]

Our manufacturing facilities can't compete against Intel, so we're going to expand into new markets where Intel doesn't dominate yet, in the hopes that we can compete a lot better against these smaller companies that don't have any more money than we do.

I think it's probably the right move for them, given the realities of the situation, but it does speak of their desperation. This decision isn't coming from a position of strength.

Except they don't have any manufacturing facilities. But it doesn't seem they have a direction either.