Binairy universals

    Maarten
    Jan 14 2006 | 1:18 am
    I'm not quite sure how those universals of Apple work.
    But are we 'old skool' PowerPC users going to be able to make max apps which can be run as a universal on an Intel based mac? Running Rosetta would be bad for our performance quality I believe.
    I'm not at all trying to pressure Cycling to switch to the Intel side, take all the time you need. I've got full confidence in all your capabilities. I'm just wondering what I should do if I wanted to change some performance hardware, because I'm building and will be building for some time of a PowerBook.
    Thnx,
    Maarten
    • vade
      Jan 14 2006 | 2:29 am
      Universal Binaries (sometimes known as Fat Binaries) contain both PPC executable code and X86 executable code. This is inherited from 'Bundles' from NeXT Step, which was able to run on a myriad of architectures due to having "Fat" binaries. (Fat binaries were used from the 68k -> PPC transition as well). IE: its Native on both, because it has both versions of the executable code in 'one' app.
      So, a Universal Binary application can have binaries for X86 and PPC, all in the same .App folder bundle.
      Also, if Apple were crazy and decided to say, support MIPS as well (hypothetical), Universal Binary apps are able to support 'N' architectures, prioviding the developer compiled for each arch.
      It was not uncommon for OmniGroup NeXT Fat binaries to run on more than 3 architectures.
      Cool stuff.
      (It should be noted that universal binaries are not limited to "bundled" apps, but can also have entry points for X86 main and PPC main, so to speak. This is from what ive read and heard from developers more advanced than I).
      v a d e //
      www.vade.info abstrakt.vade.info
    • Mark Pauley
      Jan 15 2006 | 5:54 am
      You're correct, all of the unix tools bundled with the new iMacs are fat. To see this do: file or use the otool command (which is itself a fat-binary).
      _Mark
    • Roman Thilenius
      Jan 15 2006 | 7:19 pm
    • David Zicarelli
      Jan 16 2006 | 12:26 am
      Yes, you can use Xcode 2.2 to cross-compile externs for PPC, x86, or both on either PPC or Intel. Requires Tiger though.
      Xcode is an acquired taste. Unfortunately for us Mac programmers, it's also a force-fed acquired taste.
      David Z.
    • Maarten
      Jan 16 2006 | 7:55 am
      Im rather talking about apps made by MAX not about externals going crossplatform.
      I have yet sofar only seen explanations, which I'm very grateful of. But will cycling support building these fat apps? when I want to make my tool into an app/standalone?
      So if I get this correct, reflecting on the info, it depends on the standalone part which needs to be fat universal?
    • Niro Lopez
      Jan 16 2006 | 4:50 pm
      Quote: David Zicarelli wrote on Sun, 15 January 2006 16:26 ---------------------------------------------------- > Xcode is an acquired taste. Unfortunately for us Mac programmers, it's > also a force-fed acquired taste. > > David Z. > ----------------------------------------------------
      Word.