Re: biarch cooperation.
On 21 Dec 2003, Goswin von Brederlow wrote:
> C++ uses a different abi on i386 and i486+. To run any C++ stuff (like
> apt) on i386 you need to emulate a dew instructions i386 doesn't
> have. Thats just gcc/g++ screwups and not realy relevant given i386
> cpus age. How wants to use a i386 nowadays anyway?
Well, the 386 is still by far and away the most common processor for
embedded applications. Which, btw, grossly outnumber desktop systems.
So, the answer is, "just about everyone". They're just not running debian
yet.
But more importantly, the 386->486->586->686 evolution path is the most
common one in the industry: namely, "backwards compatibility". I would
expect that all future architectures remain backwards compatible with one
of the existing architectures, but that they add certain
performance-improving features. Handling this intelligently is (IMHO) key
for a graceful future of the debian packaging system.
I predict that it won't be long until we start to see ia64 and amd64
extensions as well.
--scott
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( http://cscott.net/ )
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