[arch-general] codecs/codecs64 - what's the scoop? Why the massive difference.

[David C. Rankin]

Guys,

   I'm trying to figure out why the i686 codecs package (rm from extra now in 
aur) is so massively different from the x86_64 codecs64 package in aur. The i686 
package seems fine, but the x86_64 package seems to be nothing but a shadow of a 
package:

183164 Nov 10 00:08 codecs64-20071007-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz

183k?

The codecs i686 package is:

18465084 Nov  9 17:51 codecs-20110131-1-i686.pkg.tar.xz

18.4M ?

   I read the aur notes about the i686 and x86_64 bit versions use different 
upstream releases and contain completely different codecs, but I don't 
understand why or how this can possibly work. I have also read 
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Codecs which seems a bit 'tounge-in-cheek', 
but provides no additional information. Anybody know more? Does the x86_64 
package even work? If you use these, please let me know. Thanks.

-- 
David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E.