[ANN] Release 8.1.7 RC-3

[Mark Waddingham]

On 2017-10-06 06:57, hlowe via use-livecode wrote:
> As Apple no longer supports running 32 bit apps under iOS 11, would it 
> be
> possible to make including a 32 bit slice optional, as defaulting to
> universal binaries almost doubles the size of the app bundle (my app 
> went
> from 18 MB when built with LC 8.1.7 RC-2 to 31 MB when built with LC 
> 8.1.7
> RC-3. Ideally in iOS Application Settings one could choice from : (1) 
> Build
> universal binary; (2) Build 64 bit binary only; (3) Build 32 bit binary
> only.

I believe the iTunes store automatically removes unnecessary slices from 
apps *before* they get downloaded onto a user's phone (and I wouldn't be 
surprised if this also happens when transferring the app locally through 
Xcode / iTunes - although this is somewhat difficult to check without a 
rooted iOS device!).

The current situation from the S/B's point of view is this:

   1) If the min iOS version in the S/B is set to iOS 11, then only a 
64-bit slice will be included and it will only work on devices which 
have iOS 11

   2) If the '32-bit only' checkbox is set, then the S/B will only 
include a 32-bit slice - this is to support iPad 1 (it was added to 
support a few customers who were having to support iPad 1's in their 
apps after Apple added the 64-bit option - we're not sure if anyone is 
still using it which is why it is still there).

   3) Otherwise the S/B will include a 32-bit and 64-bit slice. This 
means that the app can run on devices older than the iPhone 5s (which 
was the first to run in 64-bit mode).

The reason the 32-bit slice is still needed is that the (32-bit only) 
iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C can run up to iOS 10 - so *not* including it 
would exclude those devices from being able to use your app.

To rephrase (for clarity) - the slices required in an iOS app are 
determined by the min iOS version you have set in the S/B with the remit 
of supporting as many devices as possible.

So the question is whether we actually need an explicit toggle - or 
whether it is better for the S/B to just do the right thing (as it does 
at the moment) based on iOS target version...

Warmest Regards,

Mark.

-- 
Mark Waddingham ~ mark at livecode.com ~ http://www.livecode.com/
LiveCode: Everyone can create apps