[Update] Linux Creator Bashes Intel Over ‘Garbage’ Meltdown In Addition To Spectre Patches

More potent words from Linus Torvalds.

Wikimedia Commons via Krd. Click for original.

Linus Torvalds wants to know "WHAT THE F*CK IS GOING ON?," to quote a purpose of a public e-mail exchange he had alongside an Amazon engineer inwards the UK. His ire is non alongside Amazon, however, simply alongside Intel as well as how it is approaching Meltdown as well as Spectre.
As it stands, Torvalds says Intel's patches are "COMPLETE AND UTTER GARBAGE," as well as declares them every bit such inwards all caps because he's really, actually angry.
"The patches produce things similar add together the garbage MSR writes to the pith entry/exit points. That's insane. That says 'we're trying to protect the kernel'. We already conduct maintain retpoline there, alongside less overhead," Torvalds added.
Torvalds, who is no stranger to tirades, is highly critical of Intel's approach to Spectre specifically. In the e-mail chain, he points out that Intel "seems to excogitation on doing the correct affair for Meltdown," which he says "should travel slow to fix." But every bit The Register points out, Intel is non treating ane of the Spectre vulnerabilities every bit a põrnikas that needs to travel fixed, as well as instead plans to curl out protections every bit a characteristic inwards time to come processor releases.
More specifically, Torvalds would similar to encounter Intel assault the work caput on past times implementing a flag or version reveal that would allow the pith know if a processor is non susceptible to Spectre. Instead, Intel is going alongside an opt-in approach—future processors volition travel able to reveal to the pith that Spectre protections are acquaint simply disabled past times default, as well as demand to travel enabled past times the operating system.
"All of this is pure garbage. Is Intel actually planning on making this shit architectural?," Torvalds asked. "Has anybody talked to them as well as told them they are f*cking insane? Please, whatever Intel engineers here— verbalize to your managers."
Intel is aware of Torvalds' criticism as well as obviously has a dialogue going alongside him, along alongside others inwards the Linux community.
"We accept the feedback of manufacture partners serious," an Intel spokesperson told The Register. "We are actively engaging alongside the Linux community, including Linus, every bit nosotros seek to travel together on solutions."
The feedback Intel is receiving, at to the lowest degree from Torvalds, is that the company's patches produce "insane things" as well as are "much worse" than a "nasty hack."

Thanks PC GAMER