[OpenIndiana-discuss] Tribblix update

[Richard L. Hamilton]

On Dec 17, 2012, at 6:41 AM, Jim Klimov wrote:

> On 2012-12-17 06:59, Alan Coopersmith wrote:
>> Oh, and it assumes no one needs 32-bit binaries any more, since all Solaris 11
>> users have to be running the 64-bit kernel since the 32-bit kernel was EOL'ed.
>> (32-bit libraries are still there for binary compatibility with other programs,
>>  it's just most of the /usr/bin/x* commands converted to 64-bit.)
>> 
>> If you care about 32-bit support, that's one more change you'll have to undo.
> 
> Well, I may probably get corrected (and should, if need be) - but
> in such discussions I've always thought (and heard) that these are
> two different things. 64-bit kernel is for optimal harnessing of
> hardware with large (>4gb) memory and perhaps wider instructions
> on CPU.
> 
> 64-bit or 32-bit userspace programs is about addressing virtual
> memory again and large files to an extent (AFAIK the latter can
> be used with 32-bit programs too). 64-bit userspace with "small"
> programs like many UNIX command-line tools, GUI applets, etc.
> which don't feasibly need to juggle gigabytes of data at once -
> now, that would also be about wasting RAM and CPU cycles on
> pushing around more bytes of pointers and other increased
> structures with no practical gain.
> 
> Am I wrong to maintain this point of view?

From what I've heard, even for programs that don't need lots of memory, on x86-64 (amd64) hardware, 64-bit is often better performing (due to additional registers?); while that's less likely to be true on SPARC.

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