Amazon/AWS engineer David Woodhouse submitted Linux kernel patches to enable building systems with IPv6-only support while flagging IPv4 for potential deprecation. The six-patch series introduces a CONFIG_LEGACY_IP configuration option, allowing developers to disable IPv4 during kernel compilation. Though some changes carry an April Fools' Day tone, Woodhouse emphasized the technical merits of separating IPv4 and IPv6 codebases to streamline future networking stack maintenance.

The patches add warnings for processes using IPv4 sockets but don't yet block functionality. Woodhouse clarified his serious intent despite the playful timing: "We should clean up the separation of CONFIG_INET and CONFIG_IPV[64] to enable protocol-specific kernels." This aligns with broader efforts to modernize Linux networking, though full IPv4 deprecation would require extensive testing and community consensus.

A key goal is reducing code complexity by isolating legacy IPv4 components. By allowing IPv6-only kernels, distributions could optimize performance for environments where IPv4 is obsolete. However, practical implementation faces challenges, as many tools and services still rely on IPv4 interoperability.

Woodhouse's proposal reflects ongoing debates about network protocol evolution. While IPv6 adoption remains gradual, such kernel-level changes could accelerate transition in controlled infrastructures. The patches are available on the Linux kernel mailing list for review, with no guaranteed timeline for integration.