Future 32bit software support.

[SuperSapien64]

I'm not sure if I'm putting this in right place or not but anyway.
I read recently that Ubuntu 19.10 will only have limited 32bit software support. And looks like it will support Steam 32bit but I'm not sure if this means it will support 32bit Steam games? Also what about 32bit drivers for printers? And can I expect Ubuntu/Kubuntu 20.04 and up to support 32bit software

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2019/05/...lease-features

[claydoh]

\Newer articles and info on the topic:
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2019/09/...ocess-outlined
https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/commu...bility/12598/6

Ubuntu will support a core set of 32 bit libraries and their dependencies (for a total of around 244 packages), specifically including things that Steam and Wine need, so games will be fine in this regard.
As to 32 bit drivers, those likely will work, as the dependencies for them are very likely included in the above set. Can't know for sure until one tries it out to see, and reports anything needed that is missing.

20.04 will be the same, with a high likelihood that whatever is missing for important 32 bit libraries will be discovered in 19.10 and added as the demand arises. Probably the key word is demand, as there really is so little in the way of 32 bit iso and package downloads, and even less testing and reporting.

[SuperSapien64]

Thanks that puts my mind at ease. Especially the part about Steam games. Although I wonder if Ubuntu 22.04 and up will support 32bit software?

[claydoh]

Although I wonder if Ubuntu 22.04 and up will support 32bit software?

I highly doubt it, except for gaming, more or less as it will be with 19.10. Others are moving away from it as well.

At some point Wine/steam/etc will have to move to 64 bit, or a hardware emulator like what is used to play old console games on a PC will have to be developed.
There is always Debian, of course.

[SuperSapien64]

Good point also there's DOSBox for old PC games.
Also speaking of printers it looks like Brother is starting to support 64bit drivers.
https://support.brother.com/g/b/down...s_eu_as&os=128

[jglen490]

32 bit won't go on forever. It's amazing that Canonical has changed its mind to at least this extent. I'm also happy about that as I still have a 32 bit laptop that works. It has other limitations and being a laptop, there are not many solutions - other than a more modern laptop. There are things that can be done with certain components. The screen is decent and could be used for a project such as with a Raspberry Pi or some other similar platform. The drive is new, so it can be used anywhere.

Keep distrowatch.com in mind, too. You can search for 32 bit distros in both Linux and BSD variants.

[Don B. Cilly]

Well, Lubuntu will probably stick to it to the bitter end, won't they?
I mean, isn't their philosophy to be as "light" as possible, and therefore suitable to older hardware?

There's even people out there selling self-configuring Lubuntu-on-a-sticks - meant to run from the sticks. no HD installation - advertised as "New life for old or dead computers".
Xtra-PC for example. Which is not a bad idea, IMO.

[claydoh]

Well, Lubuntu will probably stick to it to the bitter end, won't they?
I mean, isn't their philosophy to be as "light" as possible, and therefore suitable to older hardware?

There's even people out there selling self-configuring Lubuntu-on-a-sticks - meant to run from the sticks. no HD installation - advertised as "New life for old or dead computers".
Xtra-PC for example. Which is not a bad idea, IMO.

Old news: https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pa...No-More-32-Bit

As an increasing number of Linux distributions have focused their attention on the 64-bit x86 architecture (amd64) and not on i386, we have found that it is harder to support than it once was. With i386-only machines becoming an artifact of the past, it has become increasingly clear to the Lubuntu Team that we need to evaluate its removal from the architectures we support. After careful consideration, we regret to inform our users that Lubuntu 19.04 and future versions will not see a release for the i386 architecture. Please do note that we will continue to support Lubuntu 18.04 LTS i386 users as a first-class citizen until its End of Life date in April of 2021.

Again, Debian will have it (for now, likely for ages), and a few niche distros, even an Arch derivative/fork.

Also, if you have Nvidia GPUs there is this problem,
https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answ...rating-systems
That is just around the corner.
Though the open source Nouveau drivers are available, sucky as they can be. I imagine that these may be better supported on older hardware anyway, and probably many of the cards in the old systems are out of support from Nvidia already.

[chimak111]

Well, Lubuntu will probably stick to it to the bitter end, won't they?
I mean, isn't their philosophy to be as "light" as possible, and therefore suitable to older hardware?
...

https://lubuntu.me/taking-a-new-direction/

[woodsmoke]

Good point also there's DOSBox for old PC games.
Also speaking of printers it looks like Brother is starting to support 64bit drivers.
https://support.brother.com/g/b/down...s_eu_as&os=128

BRAVO! I LOVED my Brother printer of a decade or so ago... the whole "two part driver" and all that... thanks for the trip down memory lane! It DID HAVE GORGEOUS graphics!\woody