What Nikola said. +1.
On Thu, Mar 5, 2015 at 2:04 AM, Nikola M <[email protected]> wrote: > I have been reading 'Hipster' change log, posted on Openindiana wiki under > the page: > http://wiki.openindiana.org/oi/oi_hipster > and I noticed that alp did "All 32-bit-only X device drivers removed.", > just after updating them. > > It is strange to remove such a large portion of graphics support for > Openindiana, and user support, too and I see no reason for it. > And also removing support for 32-bit hardware for Openindiana would not > benefit anyone and must not come unnoticed and undiscussed. > It is true no one tells that Hipster is production ready, but it is a norm > in Hipster to never go back with changes , not having versioned numbers > upon repository updates (and I suppose it is because of breaking > consolidations and harder to make working 'entire' consolidation out of > changing packages), > so I must say a few words. > > As recently it was mentioned on mailing list by alp, that he is thinking > of removing 32-bit hardware support for no clear reasons, > Remind you that all Openindiana ISO disks till now both work on 32-bit and > 64-bit x86 hardware, both as LiveDVD media and after install, with most of > applications being 32bit on 64bit hardware. > Removing also such excellent functionality is also questionable. > > It is such a move not only for not supporting users needs and multiple > answers on the list that responded negatively of removing 32-bit hardware > support, but also is a way for killing user experience for anyone using > 32-bit hardware (and other 32-bit mainstream operating systems does not > even think of dropping support for 32-bit hardware any time soon. > Those are machines coming brand new with 32-bit OSes in March 2015 with no > less then 2GB of RAM or 4 with less usabe, that is still considered 'just > fine' amount for many desktop and small server needs. Also this kind of > hardware is all around us and it is simply not the case that 'every > computer in last 7-8 years is 64bit', > , but also vast amount of them has up to 4GB of RAM and 32-bit OS es > installed and that is big potential also for OI use that, should not be > destroyed. > > It is true GDA at illumos stated that illumos wold move to support ony > 64-bit on x86 for hardware (32-bit applications are going to be supported > with no changes), > but it did NOT happen in illlumos, nor there are indications it will > happen any time soon.. > Also, illumos will have announcement (with question from community of > users) and some 'last illumos for 32bit' that could be maintained for a > longer time. Also no mentions that illumos will do thing like that yet. > > So, removig important functionality from OI requires wider consensus, no > mater what you think about contribution models and types of involvement. > It is not distribution made for 2 or 3 people, it is made for wide > audience. > Decisions like this in my humble opinion should not be acted upon behind > closed doors and without calling for action or help in solving issues. (IF > they represent any issues). > Removing 32-bit suport is maybe solving some issues (what) for minority of > people, (and as we know OI has very strong workarounds inherited from > Opensolaris for suporting multiple platforms), but it is screwing OI in a > big way, comparing to any other distro and platform. > > Situation where new user, holding DVD or USB flash drive in hand and > trying to boot Openindiana for the first time on it's existing hardware he > can spare for trying it out, > and realization that it's graphics are intentionally not supported for no > clear reason is a showstopper not only for current users. > If some techical things are in mind here , then OI should firstly have at > least some or ANY release, following /dev that could fully support 32-bit > and not, before that move and not letting down existing users. > > > _______________________________________________ > openindiana-discuss mailing list > [email protected] > http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss > _______________________________________________ openindiana-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
