Hi Arthur, 

> a. Splitting ppc64 keyword into ppc64 and ppc64le

> b. Splitting riscv keyword into riscv(64?) and riscv32

So in principle these steps both make sense.

The problem is mostly that such an operation on the living Gentoo
has not been attempted in recorded history. There is no precedent in
terms of steps or procedure. Also, it's work.

Which means, we really need to think out the details first and test.

In the following I'm brainstorming a bit, but please see this only as
a very first write-down of incoherent firing of neurons...
In particular, I've not put any thought into whether the tree state is
always formally correct (PMS / CI / ...)

Step 1: Formally introduce the new keywords as "arches".

Step 2: Formally introduce the new keywords in ebuilds by duplication.
Any "ppc64" in keywords becomes "ppc64 ppc64le".
Any "riscv" becomes "riscv riscv32 riscv64".
No exceptions. Can be done automatically. Until the "lock" is removed,
any keywording operations always have to add and remove all of one set.

Step 3: Make new profiles for the new keywords. This is mostly copy-paste, 
I can take care of it.

Step 4: Prepare and publish a migration guide for users.
Right now I assume this will mostly mean "select new profile". However,
I have no clue how portage reacts when $ARCH changes.

Step 5: Deprecate the old profiles, and give people a deadline for migration.
I.e. the LE profiles under ppc64, and all profiles under riscv

Step 6: Remove the old profiles.

Step 7: Lift the "lock" in ebuilds, meaning e.g. ppc64 and ppc64le can be
added and removed independently.

Step 8: Remove all riscv keywords (no 64 or 32)

Step 9: Remove riscv as arch.



-- 
Andreas K. Hüttel
dilfridge@gentoo.org
Gentoo Linux developer
(council, toolchain, base-system, perl, libreoffice)