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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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omicron-b Jun 22, 2019
I tested Linux Mint Debian Edition today to see if it can be advised it as a new "gaming" distribution.
My opinion is that it is great, but not yet ready.

1) Installer is superb. The only 2 features I would add are:
1.1) allowing to set shortcuts to change keyboard layout (Fedora does this, and I love it)
1.2) more information about disks and partitions on the screen where you select where to install grub
currently you have to go back 1 step to check which sd* you decided to use.

2) Enable "backports non-free" repo by default and offer user to install fresh kernel and drivers in Welcome screen.
Currently you have to edit sources.list manually and install fresh packages from backports via command line, not even Synaptic offers them.

3) It is great that flatpak is integrated, you can install software like Skype via GUI, but latest stable Firefox in only available as a Snap. Maybe Mint can provide it from their repo?

4) I was not able to find HiDPI settings. Are they really missing in LMDE?


Last edited by omicron-b on 22 June 2019 at 8:29 am UTC
Nanobang Jun 22, 2019
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Quoting: Tuxee
Quoting: NanobangThank you for your condolences. You make a good point about a limitation of snaps. For me, another one is that almost every snap I ever tried was unable to access my data partition---where I keep all my music, videos, pix, and games.

Only your data partition? Or anything beyond the snap sandbox? Because that happens to non-"classic" installs.

https://blog.ubuntu.com/2017/01/09/how-to-snap-introducing-classic-confinement

As I recall, it was just my data partition. It simply wasn't "seen" by, for example, VLC in snap. I'm pretty sure the rest of the system showed up, though I'm less certain about this since I wasn't as concerned about places where my music library wasn't ;).
vector Jun 22, 2019
Quoting: garpuIs Steam officially supporting Debian, as well, or are they only the LTS version of Ubuntu?
I didn't see a response to your question, although I may have missed it. According to some outdated documentation, "Currently, Steam for Linux is only supported on the most recent version of Ubuntu LTS with the Unity, Gnome, or KDE desktops." Clearly the Steam client on SteamOS is also supported, but as far as I am aware, official support isn't currently extended to Steam client use on Debian itself, despite SteamOS being a Debian derivative. Steam's own Hardware & Software Survey shows that people use the client on unsupported distros, and several other unsupported distros in part constitute the "Linux 64 bit" and "Other" listings for Linux version.

Despite the Steam client not being supported beyond SteamOS and Ubuntu LTS, you can find games on the Steam store that mention other distros in their system requirements (e.g. Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition lists "Ubuntu 12.04 or later, Fedora 21, Debian 8"; Skullgirls lists "Ubuntu 15.04 / Fedora 22 / SteamOS"; etc).

The store categorizes the platform as "SteamOS + Linux", but in terms of official support, I believe that phrasing is intended to mean 'SteamOS + Ubuntu LTS', not 'SteamOS + all Ubuntu releases including interim releases' or 'SteamOS + any other Linux distribution in existence'. I would not be surprised if Linux users not using SteamOS or Ubuntu LTS are subject to the potential caveat that Steam Support can refuse help requests if they so choose.

---

I have yet to hear GOG Sp. z o.o.'s reaction to the news (somehow I picture this as their reaction, but I expect they will address it as best they can); I'm interested if GOG is taking a wait-and-see approach or has a more proactive response, and if this might further dampen their Linux endeavors. GOG currently only officially supports Ubuntu and Ubuntu derivatives.

quote=[GOG.com]Which Linux distributions do you support?
We test and support our games on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Our support also extends to any future non-LTS releases of Ubuntu that has not reached it end of life yet, official Ubuntu flavors (like Kubuntu, Xubuntu, etc.), and derivatives (e.g. Linux Mint, elementaryOS etc.).

As long as your operating system is part of the Ubuntu family, you have nothing to worry about. Naturally, our technical support and refund policy apply to all these versions, as long as you meet the minimal requirements for the game you bought.

Are you planning to add official support for more Linux distributions?
There are no plans to officially support other Linux distributions at this time, sorry.[/quote]

Last edited by vector on 22 June 2019 at 5:08 pm UTC
qptain Nemo Jun 22, 2019
Quoting: vectorI would not be surprised if Linux users not using SteamOS or Ubuntu LTS are subject to the potential caveat that Steam Support can refuse help requests if they so choose.
Oh yes, they can. I got an "unsupported distro" response on an issue, even though it wasn't distro-related and even after I reproduced it in Ubuntu running in a VM.
Klaas Jun 22, 2019
I'm quite pessimistic concerning GOG's way of handling things based on what I've seen over the last seven years, so I assume that they will fade out Linux releases without any official news.
bekips Jun 22, 2019
Quoting: darthbasselopeWell if Pop_OS! and LinuxMint also drop 32 bit support I will have to switch to Debian, Solus, Manjaro, or another distro when the next LTS comes out kinda a bummer I was enjoying Ubuntu and learning it well guess I will have to pick up on the nuances of some other distros. who knows maybe I will be saying btw I use Arch lol.

Pop!_OS has already stated that they won't be following suit even if it means maintaining 32bit support themselves. i would imagine LinuxMint has a similar position.
vector Jun 23, 2019
Steve Langasek has responded on the Ubuntu Community Hub.
quote=[vorlon]I’m sorry that we’ve given anyone the impression that we are “dropping support for i386 applications”. That’s simply not the case. What we are dropping is updates to the i386 libraries, which will be frozen at the 18.04 LTS versions. But there is every intention to ensure that there is a clear story for how i386 applications (including games) can be run on versions of Ubuntu later than 19.10.[/quote]It's basically a restatement of the last paragraph of the announcement. At the very least, I wish they would steer away from language like "support story" and "evolution of" (as used in the announcement); it reeks of marketing.
Shmerl Jun 23, 2019
QuoteWhat we are dropping is updates to the i386 libraries, which will be frozen at the 18.04 LTS versions.

That's not a good thing either. Given how fast mesa, dxvk and the rest are progressing. It totally should not be frozen.
vlademir1 Jun 23, 2019
Quoting: Guest
Quoting: serge
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
EndeavourOS will be it's sucessor. Release date: 15th of July
https://forum.antergos.com/category/7/announcements

My first thought on seeing serge's post was "ok, maybe give Manjaro another test go" but if Endeavor will provide essentially the same base level install Antergos would have I may have to give it a shot. Hell, I'd be all over a straight Arch install, but for how long it took me to be fully functional the last time I tried (it's why I've been riding *Buntu for half a decade).
TheSyldat Jun 23, 2019
Quoting: Shmerl
QuoteWhat we are dropping is updates to the i386 libraries, which will be frozen at the 18.04 LTS versions.

That's not a good thing either. Given how fast mesa, dxvk and the rest are progressing. It totally should not be frozen.
I mean will those things changing really break much of anything in how those libraries are functionning ?

That's not a troll but a real honest question here . Them freezing up those libraires in their current state would really break shit ?
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