Ryan Gordon Ends FatELF Universal Binary Effort

recoiledsnake writes "A few years after the Con Kolivas fiasco, the FatELF project to implement the 'universal binaries' feature for Linux that allows a single binary file to run on multiple hardware platforms has been grounded. Ryan C. Gordon, who has ported a number of popular games and game servers to Linux, has this to say: 'It looks like the Linux kernel maintainers are frowning on the FatELF patches. Some got the idea and disagreed, some didn't seem to hear what I was saying, and some showed up just to be rude.' The launch of the project was recently discussed here. The FatELF project page and FAQ are still up."

Comments

Isn't someone going to ask ...

[oGMo]

...who the hell distributes Linux binaries anyway? On OSX, most software you get is a binary. As you said, 2 platforms (one dying), universal binaries sortof make sense just so vendors can put things in a single box, use a single icon, and not care about writing detection code for something so fundamental.

On Linux the main binaries you get are either from your distribution (which already knows all about your architecture, so why bother), or maybe the occasional third party (nvidia? who already maintains all this separately). Maintaining N binaries is, as you said, difficult if not impossible for Linux. As is distributing binaries anyway.

As a poster above said: solution in search of a problem.

Re:Wait, what does Con Kolivas have to do with thi

[idontgno]

Steve Jobs, is that you?

Was there a point to this idea?

[CrosseyedPainless]

I mean, really, Apple did it back in the day because their customers were too stupid to know what a CPU was-- I mean, were too busy creating and thinking differently to care whether they had a 68K or a PowerPC computer.

But why now? And for Linux?!!? Sweet fancy Moses, if you can't figure out what type of binary you need, you're just not going to get too far with the average Linux distribution.

The fact that this guy got as far down the development path as he did, before he noticed all the people screaming "GO AWAY! WE DON'T NEED THIS!!" is a clear sign that he's got some kind of cognitive issue.

Ryan-- dude-- go solve a real problem. This wasn't one.

Re:He needs thicker skin

[BitZtream]

First off, someone else posted the full coversation:

http://pastebin.com/m2cfd19dd

Which is a little less one sided than your truncated version.

Yes, I admitted it was a configuration mistake, after it was tracked down. Of course you are ignoring the fact that the error was not any of the suggestions given, and that I pointed out that those reasons could not possibly be the problem since I could connect with another client.

The problem was not properly logged in the debug files.

The problem was not known or solved by anyone on the channel.

The problem was accepted as a bug by the devs.

I didn't smear MythTV, I pointed out how arrogant assholes can ruin someones experience and cause them to leave.

I said thank you because one of those people didn't assume that I was had no idea what I was doing.

I FOUND THE PROBLEM, and relayed the solution to the channel so MAYBE it could help someone else.

You entirely missed the point because just like my original statement, you assume you were right when NO ONE in the channel was right, myself included.

I'm going to have to assume, Anonymous Coward, that you were one of the arrogant and unhelpful assholes who pissed me off in the first place.

I realize its IRC, and its free help, but it STILL has an effect on people using the software. Considering its the channel that mythtv.org or mythbuntu.org suggests to ask for help in, that DOES mean its the place people go to ask for help and not being an arrogant prick is a good start.

I have no problem accepting 'Ive never seen that error' or 'your an idiot, you did this wrong' when you actually know the answer.

But I was told what I did wrong before I even finished stating the problem.