Ryan Gordon Wants To Bring Universal Binaries To Linux

wisesifu writes "One of the interesting features of Mac OS X is its 'universal binaries' feature that allows a single binary file to run natively on both PowerPC and Intel x86 platforms. While this comes at a cost of a larger binary file, it's convenient on the end-user and on software vendors for distributing their applications. While Linux has lacked such support for fat binaries, Ryan Gordon has decided this should be changed."

Comments

Re:Only useful for non-free applications

[jeremyp]

Let the package system handle these things, they do it well and does not bloat your boat.

No they don't. Package managers are a necessary evil. If I want software for Windows or OS X, I can download an installer or buy it on a CD from the company or person that wrote it. I don't have to hope that the company I bought the operating system has put it in their database.

Package managers are only necessary because of the fragmented nature of the Linux universe.

Re:Only useful for non-free applications

[synthespian]

So what if the user has a "centralized repository" that, for all I care, has outdated versions (and my options are doing the work for the package maintainer who's out in Mexico in the dope trip of his life) or doesn't have what I want *at all*?

And then, when you try to compile shit, shit breaks all over in Linux (Linux ain't Solaris and they don't care if what you have will break - but free is free, right?)