64 bit desktop apps

[Richmond Mathewson]

On 6/8/17 6:56 pm, Richard Gaskin via use-livecode wrote:
> Roger Eller wrote:
>
> > On Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 10:56 AM, Richard Gaskin wrote:
> >> Using a supported version of an OS that's receiving critical security
> >> patches along with other updates is the safest choice, and one that
> >> could not be more economical given a purchase price for most Linux
> >> distros of zero.
> ...
> >
> > But even with PPC Linux to revive old hardware, if LiveCode usage is
> > your end game, there isn't a PPC Linux version (or is there?).
>
> Good point, touching on two aspects:
>
> Security: Not only do OSes need to be updated to remain secure, but 
> from time to time apps do too.
>
> Viability:  When a user base for a given configuration is sufficiently 
> low, it may be difficult to find resources to maintain it.
>
> IIRC no computer running an OS LC supports has shipped with a PPC 
> processor in about 12 years (Apple switched in 2005).  While I'm a big 
> fan of minimizing landfills by extending the life of older hardware as 
> much as practical, that's the key word, "practical".
>
> If LC plays a critical role on a PPC machine revived with a supported 
> OS, it will require that someone compile a version of LC for that CPU 
> and OS.
>
> At the moment, AFAIK the size of the audience for such a build is 
> currently 1.

The size of the audience for a Linux PPC build is probably ZERO as I am 
not interested in one
(see my recent posting on Lubuntu on a PPC), and, while I am sure there 
are thousands of closet
PPC Linux users out there dying because they are deprived of LiveCode . 
. . .

This is a redundant discussion.

Richmond.
>
> So clearly if this were to happen at all it would have to be a 
> community project.
>
> Given the time required, it may be more cost-effective to either 
> replace the machines with any Intel-based system that can support 
> modern OSes (here in the States many EDU orgs get donated Core Duo and 
> Core 2 Duo machines from local businesses who've upgraded), or replace 
> the LiveCode role on those machines with something that supports PPC.
>
> With the latter option, though, it may buy only a little time but not 
> much:  since no new mainstream computers have been made with PPC CPUs 
> in more than a decade, it's only a matter of time before more and more 
> projects stop supporting that architecture.  Over time the range of 
> supported software for PPC can only get ever smaller.
>
> -- 
>  Richard Gaskin
>  Fourth World Systems
>  Software Design and Development for the Desktop, Mobile, and the Web
>  ____________________________________________________________________
>  Ambassador at FourthWorld.com http://www.FourthWorld.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> use-livecode mailing list
> use-livecode at lists.runrev.com
> Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your 
> subscription preferences:
> http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-livecode