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It seems like there have been a few disassembly write ups on the 8086 lately. Are the tools getting to the point where this is possible, or just enough people with enough serious interest in this? Coincidence? Am I seeing a pattern that isn't really there?

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Probably not entirely a coincidence - Ken Shirriff is doing a series on the 8086 which may account for at least one of the other articles you've noticed. My disassembly was only possible because of Ken's high-resolution photos of the die with the metal layer removed - that's why it took me until now to do it.

so it's turtles all the way down? someone makes a break through that gets used by someone else to make a different break through kind of a thing. this is why science needs to be open. no one person/group can do it all. i just wish that research didn't have to be done in secret to protect potential patent ability. Let the work be published and the let the people responsible receive whatever credit/recognition/awards deserved.

kudos for your efforts!

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