In a long-anticipated move, Intel's Itanium chips and their IA-64 architecture are finally being laid to rest as support for the technology is removed from the upcoming version of the Linux kernel. The decision to retire Itanium comes after years of decline for the once-promising processor.

The demise of Itanium can be traced back to several significant milestones. In 2013, Intel effectively halted its improvement, signaling a lack of confidence in the architecture's future. Then, in 2017, the last new Itanium CPUs were shipped, marking a major blow to its ongoing development.

The latest blow to Itanium comes from the Linux kernel community, as Phoronix reports that all code related to supporting the architecture is being removed in the forthcoming 6.7 release. Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, recently committed the removal of 65,219 lines of Itanium-supporting code, effectively sealing the architecture's fate.

Itanium's struggle for relevance was further underscored by the discontinuation of Itanium-compatible versions of Windows Server in 2020. This move left users without updates and signaled the reduced demand for the architecture.

The final nail in the coffin for Itanium came much earlier, in 2003, when AMD introduced its 64-bit processor lineup. Unlike Itanium, AMD's processors were able to maintain compatibility with existing 32-bit x86 operating systems and applications, making them a more appealing choice for consumers and businesses.

Despite these numerous setbacks and failures, Itanium held on, refusing to succumb to its inevitable end. However, with support for the architecture officially being removed from the Linux kernel, Itanium is now entering a "well-earned retirement as planned," according to Linus Torvalds.

While Itanium may have had its share of loyal users and supporters throughout the years, its inability to keep up with advancements in technology ultimately led to its demise. With its removal from the Linux kernel, the final chapter in the story of Itanium has now been written, marking the end of an era for Intel's once revolutionary architecture.

As technology continues to evolve and improve, it is inevitable that some technologies, no matter how promising, will eventually fade away. Itanium's demise serves as a reminder of the ever-changing landscape of the tech industry and the need to adapt to stay relevant.