Is x86 so convoluted because with each new iteration (8086 -> 80186 -> 80286), I... | Hacker News

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metaobject on Feb 21, 2014 | parent | context | favorite | on: Yasp – Web-based emulator, assembler for students ...

Is x86 so convoluted because with each new iteration (8086 -> 80186 -> 80286), Intel tried to maintain backward compatibility?

hrjet on Feb 21, 2014 [–]

Yep, quite so. There is a lot of legacy cruft. There are even bugs in prior versions which have now become features[1]!

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A20_line

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