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Canonical planning to drop 32bit support with Ubuntu 19.10 onwards

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As you might have heard by now, Canonical has made the decision to drop 32bit support from Ubuntu 19.10 onwards.

Writing on the mailing list, as well as this post on Ubuntu's Community Hub, Canonical gave a reminder that the decision isn't coming without warning. It was proposed last year and it was followed up with another post detailing a final decision to be made in the middle of 2019. So here we are, the decision seems to have been made.

The problem isn't hardware, as likely around 99% of people nowadays have a 64bit capable computer. Going by our own statistics, from what 2,254 users told us only 4 are using a 32bit Linux distribution. The issue then, is mainly software and libraries needed to actually run 32bit applications. This is where it sounds like there's going to be plenty of teething issues, with a number of people not too happy about the decision.

Steam, for example, is one such application along with plenty of 32bit games that will likely never get updated, although Canonical did say they're "in discussions" with Valve about it. There's also GOG, Humble Store and itch.io which all provide a number of direct-download 32bit games, which do not supply the required 32bit libraries to run. It doesn't sound like they have been given any thought (at least they haven't been mentioned).

Another of the major problems being Wine, with a discussion now happening on their mailing list. The discussion doesn't seem to be too positive, with developer Henri Verbeet even saying "I think not building packages for Ubuntu 19.10 would be the only practical option.", although Andrew Eikum's idea of using the Steam Runtime could be an interesting way around it.

What are your thoughts?

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Distro News, Misc
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164 comments
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Spirimint Jun 21, 2019
So i guess then i will switch to Manjaro.

Are there a good choice as it is recommend on Linus Tech Tipps.


Last edited by Spirimint on 21 June 2019 at 8:21 am UTC
Ehvis Jun 21, 2019
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Quoting: bird_or_cage
Quoting: EhvisSomehow it sounds like this announcement came late for something that is supposed to happen in 19.10. Could it be that they're just testing the waters?
non LTS releases are for testing and development, so in general 32bit support ends in 2021 and even then 18.04 will still get security updates till 2023. I don`t feel any decision could be too late for Ubuntu non LTS release.

Were almost half way into the 19.10 cycle. I think that is pretty late such a decision. And testing resistance is a good way to find out if it's worth going on with it for another LTS release.
Eike Jun 21, 2019
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Quoting: VodkaChickenIs there a Debian (stable) repo for more recent kernels and nvidia drivers or would I have to install that sort of stuff manually? Maybe it's finally time to give in to the Arch menace.

At the moment, you should install the upcoming stable (buster), which will officially release in some weeks. I'm living fine with Debian stable plus backports repo. Others prefer Debian testing, which is rolling.
Eike Jun 21, 2019
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Quoting: slaapliedjewith the debian-multimedia repo,

Is there still such a thing? I remember big problems with the "usual" Debian multimedia site, and living fine without it since then.
Eike Jun 21, 2019
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Quoting: no_information_hereEdit: Just checking and it looks like most of those work fine. Hmm. Does anyone have any comments on the KDE Debian spin?

Running Debian with KDE for, dunno, two decades? Sure worth a try.
Beamboom Jun 21, 2019
If y'alls problem with this is old 32bit games, why can't you just keep a partition with current Ubuntu installed, and run the games on that one? I mean, times change. One can't expect an old binary to run forever, that's just not how it works.

I mean, getting rid of old technology is always a pain for some. Look at Adobe Flash, the entire world worked hard for a decade to get rid of that nightmare. It will hurt some to rip it out but sometimes we need to clean out the closet.
omicron-b Jun 21, 2019
Quoting: BeamboomIf y'alls problem with this is old 32bit games, why can't you just keep a partition with current Ubuntu installed, and run the games on that one?
That`s what I am going to do with my non Steam games. But as soon as one of my family members asks for some Windows software to be run via Wine, I fear Ubuntu will be purged. Because, as per Wine developers, 64bit Wine will not be able to install most 64bit Windows apps. And I do not like rebooting into other OS very often.


Last edited by omicron-b on 21 June 2019 at 11:20 am UTC
serge Jun 21, 2019
Quoting: vlademir1Switching from *Buntu to Antergos is a project I've had on the table for a few years anyway

i think you have to choose another distro Antergos is dead:

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Antergos-EOL
whatever Jun 21, 2019
Quoting: BeamboomIf y'alls problem with this is old 32bit games, why can't you just keep a partition with current Ubuntu installed, and run the games on that one? I mean, times change. One can't expect an old binary to run forever, that's just not how it works.

At that point I might as well switch back to Windows. Old games work fine on that OS and will for the foreseeable future. I frequently play Virtua Tennis (2002), Civilization 4 (2005) and Modern Warfare 2 (2009) and I guess the most convenient way to continue to do so is to just use Windows.

Microsoft is finally fixing its update policy and if you need a unix environment you can install Linux inside Windows 10, which is not a bad OS at all. I'm using Linux (Ubuntu) since the Vista disaster but it's becoming just too incovenient and I'm starting to pondering the possibility of switching back...


Last edited by whatever on 21 June 2019 at 10:32 am UTC
adamhm Jun 21, 2019
This is a *really* dumb move by Canonical. And the timing is just perfect as well: right when there will be a lot of Windows 7 users looking for an alternative to Windows 10 as support ends... what a great first impression this will make for them.
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