[plug] AMD64 distros

[James Devenish]

In message <20040822053218.GC16069 at cp.yi.org>
on Sun, Aug 22, 2004 at 01:32:18PM +0800, Cameron Patrick wrote:
> Open Office (which doesn't run on 64-bit machines).

I assume you mean "won't run as a 64-bit application". But why
on Earth not? I assume you mean there are bugs in it.

> Like every 64-bit distro, you can't use a 32-bit 3D games with 64-bit X.

Why so? (I've never used 32-bit 3D "games" with a 64-bit X server.)

In message <Pine.LNX.4.50.0408220709340.8112-100000 at natalie>
on Sun, Aug 22, 2004 at 08:22:24AM +0800, Michael wrote:
> Actually I probably need to understand how 64bit programs work. I
> really don't know if its even possible for 64 bit programs to open and
> use 32 bit libraries. (e.g wine). Any thoughts/comments on the above?

In general, 64-bit programmes must link against 64-bit libraries, and
vice versa. (Although I suppose it's theoretically possible to make a
particular subset of programmes capable of mixing ABIs, I suggest that
you "don't try this at home"). However, I don't know whether this has
any bearing on WINE. I presume that if you have 32-bit Windows libraries
and 32-bit Windows apps then you would run WINE as a 32-bit app, so
"64-bit libraries" never come into the equation.