On 1/16/20 12:16, Stefan Dösinger wrote:
I'd phrase the political problem differently: Distros outsourcing backward compatibility support to Wine and expecting us to do magic without their support.
See also: Who still runs the Linux ports of games made in the early 2000s, changing sound API like underwear (although PA has been stable lately, maybe that sticks around now), SNI systray.
I am afraid the distros who think of dropping 32 bit libraries are also ignoring the commercial use of Linux with highly specialized or proprietary software, or pretty much any software outside of distributions itself. There is software like that, while the volume it is not comparable to Windows of course. Porting the software which just works to newer technologies just for the sake of renewal without getting any improvement for business looks like a pure waste. Dropping 32 bit support now or soon will also make the decisions to make new commercial software for Linux highly questionable. As it is no warranty that they won't drop something else in the next 10-15 years which will throw the expenses and time for such development away.