[arch-dev-public] Core Issue in Multiple Architecture

[eliott at cactuswax.net]

> So I see two solutions:
>
> 1) See if more developers come along for other architectures. This
> isn't something we can "make" happen, unless someone's got a rich
> uncle who's willing to pay them! We should make it clear we're
> looking for help, and if people want to help, they'll come.
>
> 2) Reduce that 2x to something smaller. This *is* something within
> our control.. we can try to solve the technical problems which
> currently make it hard to develop for multiple architectures.
>
> This is meant as a starting point for further discussion, and also a
> means of conveying, for instance, why I haven't started building for
> x86_64. I'm not even running an x86_64 box, even though most of my
> computers are Athlon64s. Since I have to choose between developing
> and testing on one or the other, the barrier is very high. Let's try
> to make it lower.

I see a potential third option. That is.. Separate the x86_64 branch into
its own support structure, effectively creating a sister distribution.
They would manage pkgbuilds for that architecture, again separate from
i686.

Still provide infrastructure, but maybe make them a bit more self
operating. More like providing a 'project' status to it, than making it
part of mainline. When that branch reaches enough critical mass, and has
enough support devs, *then* merge it into more of a single umbrella
distribution. At that point, the supporting tools and underlying workflow
*should* be more capable of dealing with needs. My fear is that the x86_64
branch may have been brought on board before there was sufficient
infrastructure and support for it in the core distribution.

I am still new here though, so maybe this is just me not seeing all the
pieces. Certainly correct any of my erroneous assumptions.