Re: Deprecation of i386 and 32-bit powerpc for 15.0

On Sat, 21 Jun 2025 04:48:23 +0300
Vadim Goncharov <vadimnuclight@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Sat, 21 Jun 2025 08:36:28 +0900
> Tomoaki AOKI <junchoon@dec.sakura.ne.jp> wrote:
> 
> > On Sat, 21 Jun 2025 01:15:58 +0300
> > Vadim Goncharov <vadimnuclight@gmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> > > On Sat, 21 Jun 2025 04:09:29 +0900
> > > Tomoaki AOKI <junchoon@dec.sakura.ne.jp> wrote:
> > >   
> > > > > > > - ~6 months after branching (BSDCan 2026 devsummit):
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >    - evaluate how stable/14 has been fairing (are MFCs breaking
> > > > > > >      deprecated platforms) (note that stable/13 will be EOL at this
> > > > > > >      point)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >      - if all is smooth, start removing code from main for i386 and
> > > > > > >        powerpc kernels as well as any powerpc userspace code not
> > > > > > >        required for lib32    
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > When can we expect lib32 removal?    
> > > > > Hopefully never.    
> > > > 
> > > > Maybe this could puzzle more persons.
> > > > 
> > > > IIUC, lib32 is for running 32bit apps on 64bit platform, which is NOT
> > > > planned for removal.
> > > > 
> > > > What is going to be deprecated is 32bit bare-metal hardwares supports
> > > > for i386 and 32bit PowerPC, which never runs on 64bit modes.  
> > > 
> > > Does that mean that support for 32-bit builds for virtual machines (that's
> > > important because they use less memory -> buy cheaper, especially when
> > > lots of them) will be continued after 2030 ?  
> > 
> > My understanding is, unfortunately, yes.
> > IIUC, VM images are "pre-installed" environment with virtual disk
> > format that the VM recognizes and pre-installed, if any, drivers to
> > support emulated virtual hardwares.
> > 
> > You can still use 32bit binaries on 64bit builds of VMs, but
> > it would require lib32 to be installed.
> > 
> > Correct me if I'm misunderstanding.
>  
> If "yes" then why "unfortunately" ? Continuing to support 32 bits where it
> makes sense is very fortunate thing, both for cheaper prices and energy saving
> thus our planet!

If we're fortunate enough, someone having passion, ability, experiences,
knowkedges, time and hardwares to test should have already been popped
in and state keeping maintenance for to-be-deprecated archs.

And are there any cloud service providers stating to keep 32bit-arch
emulations forever? AFAIK, no. Maybe it would be dropped when incomes
from users of 32bit archs goes below the maintainance budgets required.
Or become far more expensive compared to 64bit archs. It's a business
to earn money, so profit should be mandatory for them.

(Another aspect: if keeping i386 support attracts far more amd64 users
that pays enough to earn extra budgets to keep maintaining i386
emulations, it would be kept. But it would also mean the services are
expensive compared to focusing on amd64 only.)

This is why I said "unfortunately".

> -- 
> WBR, @nuclight


-- 
Tomoaki AOKI    <junchoon@dec.sakura.ne.jp>