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

On Sat, 21 Jun 2025 01:15:58 +0300
Vadim Goncharov <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sat, 21 Jun 2025 04:09:29 +0900
> Tomoaki AOKI <[email protected]> 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.

> -- 
> WBR, @nuclight


-- 
Tomoaki AOKI    <[email protected]>