Is 32-bit obsolete?

[tmokonen]

I use an ancient 32 bit XP desktop for confirming that my 32 bit compiles run on a real 32 bit system, and for running ultrafast time control matches using cutechess-cli to test changes to my engine.

That being said, I spend 99% of my computing time with my 64 bit laptop, and 32 bit can die in a grease fire AFAIC.

[Frank Quisinsky]

Hi Gabor,

in SWCR times I created a w32 and x64 list. This was around 2010. 34% hits on w32 and 66% hits on x64. A friend is working on a topic, nothing to do with computer chess but both is possible. After his webstats today 7% users have interest on w32 and 93% of users on x64. And he have around 2.000 hits per day on his site.

I think this should be same for us. As reason that different of us useing older Computers as third or fourth computer for chess.

Best
Frank

Program with most boost w32 / x64 = Zappa!

[lucasart]

I understand there are still people equipped with an old 32-bit machine only.

32-bit machine or 32-bit OS (on a 64-bit machine) ?

I don't think anyone uses 32-bit machines these days, except retro-computing fans...

But there are still a few people running a 32-bit OS on their 64-bit machine. What a waste of computing power...

[Ras]

I have Win7-64 on my desktop machine and Win7-32 on my netbook. Plus that my chess target hardware runs a 32 bit ARM Cortex-M4 (no operating system).

[mjlef]

Thanks for doing this poll. I have wanted to stop making 32 builds for Komodo, since it seems archaic technology now. And I think some people accidentally install 32 bit versions when their hardware support 64 fine. 4% right now for 32 bit...pretty low....

[jdart]

I still ship Arasan 32-bit executables (for Windows only).

Older OS versions are commoner outside the US, and some people don't upgrade machines or software for a long time. There is a government agency I do some volunteer work for and they still have 32-bit Windows.

--Jon

[Henrik Dinesen]

Thanks for doing this poll. I have wanted to stop making 32 builds for Komodo, since it seems archaic technology now. And I think some people accidentally install 32 bit versions when their hardware support 64 fine. 4% right now for 32 bit...pretty low....

I retired my last 32-bit machine 8 years ago, but while you watch the poll-results here, remember we're not like people are most, and there's surely people who wish to use their 32-bit hardware for as long as possible. To this community though, I suppose 64-bit is vastly common, which both the poll and the comments suggest.

PS: Happy to see you have great joy with the Komodo-developement It's an excellent engine!

[MikeB]

Thanks for doing this poll. I have wanted to stop making 32 builds for Komodo, since it seems archaic technology now. And I think some people accidentally install 32 bit versions when their hardware support 64 fine. 4% right now for 32 bit...pretty low....

When I broke out the exe flavors for McBrain- they are now all in just one download- you could do this occasionally to get a better feel:

Code: Select all

v1.1
Published on: 2017-01-20
  
Download Info:

McBrain_2017-v1.1-macOS.zip (0.31 MiB) - Downloaded 16(7.0%) times.
Last updated on 2017-01-20
McBrain_v1.1_2017_32bit.zip (0.95 MiB) - Downloaded 58(25.3%) times.
Last updated on 2017-01-21
McBrain_v1.1_2017_linux.zip (0.64 MiB) - Downloaded 8(3.5%) times.
Last updated on 2017-01-21
McBrain_v1.1_2017_x64.zip (1.34 MiB) - Downloaded 147(64.1%) times.
Last updated on 2017-01-21

The 4% in the poll seems low relative to the 25.3% here.

[Stan Arts]

I recently bought an Intel compute stick for my old tv and it ships with 32 bit Win10 so no, not yet obsolete especially with similar low spec devices.

[bnemias]

Thanks for doing this poll. I have wanted to stop making 32 builds for Komodo, since it seems archaic technology now. And I think some people accidentally install 32 bit versions when their hardware support 64 fine. 4% right now for 32 bit...pretty low....

That seems like a terrible reason to me. If it is actually difficult to support, that is reasonable. But good grief, it's not hard to write code that works on both, and maintain your makefiles to support both. Being commercial, I understand you also have to do some minimal testing for every build, but much of that can be easily automated.