Re: 64-bit build option?

Vaclav Slavik wrote:
> 
> What about the WIN32 preprocessor symbol that VC++ normally defines (see
> related Bakefile fix: http://www.bakefile.org/changeset/1284)? Is it
> still defined, is it replaced with WIN64 or something else?

Yes, WIN32 is still defined for a 64-bit build.  I thought at first I 
had screwed something up, so I checked it a couple of different ways.

On reflection, I think I see why.  There's no way to create a 64-bit 
executable directly from the VC++ 2008 project wizard.  You have to 
start with a 32-bit project, add a 64-bit build configuration, and then 
remove the 32-bit configuration.  I'm sure this is why the 32-bit 
references are still around.  I doubt it's really intended, and may go 
away in VC++ 2010.  Personally, I would expect to test only _WINDOWS or 
WIN64 as predefined symbols if I knew I was supporting 64-bit platforms.

I think I was wrong to suggest making it an either/or option.  I now 
think Bakefile should emit project files with build configurations for 
both CPU types, at least for the next few years while the low end 
completes the transition to 64-bit.  AMD64/EM64T has won the war, and 
even desktop machines are coming in 64-bit versions now.  Meanwhile, 
there is still demand for 32-bit binaries.  If it isn't happening 
already, it will certainly be the case in the future that building for 
both CPU types will be wanted until 32-bit finally dies off.

I don't see any reason to have special support for other platforms, by 
the way.  Autoconf based systems, at least, already have good ways to 
manage this, independent of Bakefile.  It's not clear to me what the 
options are with MinGW, though.

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