Arch Linux Preparing To Deprecate i686 Support

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Arch Linux Preparing To Deprecate i686 Support

Arch Linux is moving ahead with preparing to deprecate i686 (x86 32-bit) support in their distribution...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Arch-Linux-Deprecating-i686

[GreenByte]

Damn it! Steam, hurry up! Even half of your own games do not work on 32-bit architectures. Sure there will be AUR, but still, I think it is about time.

[chuckula]

I sincerely hope they are keeping the 32-bit compatibility libraries in place even if they are moving off supporting native 32-bit systems.
There are plenty of cases where you need a 32-bit fallback library.

[LinuxID10T]

This will make my netbook sad...

[M@yeulC]

Uh? I mean, I can understand the reasoning, but my laptop is still using a 32 bits only atom (granted, I should change it, but I haven't felt that much need for now).

Are Arch derivatives going the same road?

[lonaowna]

Damn it! Steam, hurry up! Even half of your own games do not work on 32-bit architectures. Sure there will be AUR, but still, I think it is about time.

The Multilib repository is unrelated to these plans, it will still be there for apps like Steam.

my laptop is still using a 32 bits only atom (granted, I should change it, but I haven't felt that much need for now).

Well, time to change it then!

[lonaowna]

Damn it! Steam, hurry up! Even half of your own games do not work on 32-bit architectures. Sure there will be AUR, but still, I think it is about time.

The Multilib repository is unrelated to these plans, it will still be there for apps like Steam.

my laptop is still using a 32 bits only atom (granted, I should change it, but I haven't felt that much need for now).

Well, finally time to change it then!

[lumks]

Damn it! Steam, hurry up! Even half of your own games do not work on 32-bit architectures. Sure there will be AUR, but still, I think it is about time.

[Multilib] is not effected. This is only about the "real" 32bit only plattform of x86

[lumks]

Are Arch derivatives going the same road?

TBH I hope so. The Arch-Tree of OS are the future driven part of the linux world. it would be nice to have them focused on x86_64 only without people who run the "ohh nooo we keep the old stuff!"-road again ...

[ResponseWriter]

This will make my netbook sad...

Mine too. Still using it almost daily and recently did some minor upgrades to extend its useful life, which fortunately only cost less than £5 (about $6.25 since quantitative easing after the Brexit vote here in the UK). Hopefully the derivatives will keep 32-bit packages going for a little longer.

Edit: On the one hand AMD64 has been standard in CPUs for long enough to justify it but Intel still had those 32-bit Atoms being sold as recently as 5 years ago so I have mixed feelings about this move.