Suggestion wanted: Get rid of 32-bit operating systems?

[xupefei]

For all's convenience, please use English to fill this issue.

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
Now QuickLook ships every native component in both 32- and 64-bit. But seriously, how many 32-bit OSs there is?

Describe the solution you'd like
Get rid of 32-bit components.

Describe alternatives you've considered
No alternative.

Additional context

Doing this brings many good things:

1. QuickLook can finally switch to CefSharp. The blockage now is the size of CefSharp: shipping both 32- and 64-bit of CefSharp will increase the package by 120MB.

2. CefSharp allows QuickLook to preview files faster, like APNG and GIF (my in-home implementation is slow and RAM-hungry).

3. CefSharp solves The Epub Plugin doesn't work QuickLook.Plugin.EpubViewer#2 (comment).

4. One can even preview PDF with CefSharp!

---

What do you guys think? Is it acceptable that QuickLook refuses to run on 32bit systems?

[rabelux]

I think it would be totally fine to eliminate 32bit support. Even my convertible with a total of 16 gb internal storage can only run 64bit windows so no idea what the purpose of a 32 bit windows is anymore

[KuroChloe]

Please do.

[montoner0]

Could it happen that after removing of 32-bit components QuickLook will stop working from within 32-bit applications? Like in Open file dialogs.

[xupefei]

Could it happen that after removing of 32-bit components QuickLook will stop working from within 32-bit applications? Like in Open file dialogs.

No. It will still work in 32bit apps.

[Weasy666]

I say get rid of it, we are nearly in 2020. The few people who still use 32bit systems can just use an older version of QuickLook.
Do you know if CEFSharp, in the future, will be using the new EdgeChromingWebView component under the hood, that will be integrated in windows when Edge gets replaced with the chromium variant?

[xupefei]

Do you know if CEFSharp, in the future, will be using the new EdgeChromingWebView component under the hood, that will be integrated in windows when Edge gets replaced with the chromium variant?

I don't know, but I hope so. There is some rumours on the Web that MS is considering a build-in version of Webkit (or Blink).

[owenlsa]

I suggest that you can keep recent versions for 32bit system and do not support 32bit system in the later version. Who use 32bit system can still choose older version just cannot enjoy latest feature in later version.

[bwiernik]

Adding a page to the wiki regarding 32 bit systems that gives a link to an older version MSI should be sufficient support. Dropping 32 bit moving forward would be great.

[skycommand]

When thinking about 32-bit, one mustn't restrict oneself to the 32-bit Intel x86. (They call it IA-32.) There is a new breed of Windows 10 for ARM devices that can run IA-32 apps but not x64 apps.

An alternative for dropping the 32-bit support is to split the release into two: One for x64 and one for IA-32, which also runs on ARM 32-bit and ARM 64-bit.

[james856]

I agree with dropping 32-bit support to simplify development.
Regarding Windows 10 on ARM devices, QuickLook is available in ARM64 according to the Microsoft Store listing. This is 64-bit ARM architecture and runs just fine. No 32-bit needed.

[Darthagnon]

Quicklook already doesn't support Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit) afaik; it shouldn't be a problem to drop support for 32bit OS (i.e. Win10 32 bit - how many people actually use it?)

[cuiko]

64 bit, Yes! :)

[ghost]

Yes

[MrAlexEsisteGia]

32bit begone

[Nyameliaaaa]

I think 32 bit users do not exist at all.

[jeremyhart]

Legit question here: who actually uses 32bit PC's these days?

[ghost]

Legit question here: who actually uses 32bit PC's these days?

Government Offices especially for developing country

[skycommand]

Legit question here: who actually uses 32bit PC's these days?

Yes. It is a legit question. To quantify it, one needs telemetry data.

[Nyameliaaaa]

Legit question here: who actually uses 32bit PC's these days?

Government Offices especially for developing country

Or boomers

[MrAlexEsisteGia]

Legit question here: who actually uses 32bit PC's these days?

Government Offices especially for developing country

Or boomers

Or people that people themselves

[Nyameliaaaa]

Legit question here: who actually uses 32bit PC's these days?

Government Offices especially for developing country

Or boomers

Or people that people themselves

Or Workplaces in developing countries

[skycommand]

Legit question here: who actually uses 32bit PC's these days?

Government Offices especially for developing country

Or boomers

Or people that people themselves

Or Workplaces in developing countries

Or people in well-developed countries who need to buy cheap laptops because they don't earn much, e.g. the United States.

[Nyameliaaaa]

Legit question here: who actually uses 32bit PC's these days?

Government Offices especially for developing country

Or boomers

Or people that people themselves

Or Workplaces in developing countries

Or people in well-developed countries who need to buy cheap laptops because they don't earn much, e.g. the United States.

or no one

[Flexxkii]

You're limiting yourself anyways by using a 32 bit OS. so yea why not.

[SplitGemini]

Just do it.

[skycommand]

Microsoft officially deprecated 32-bit Windows 10 a few days ago. It won't be licensed to OEMs anymore.

Woods, Rich (13 May 2020). "Microsoft is beginning to phase out 32-bit support for Windows 10 ". Neowin.

[Nyameliaaaa]

Microsoft officially deprecated 32-bit Windows 10 a few days ago. It won't be licensed to OEMs anymore.

h

[MrAlexEsisteGia]

Microsoft officially deprecated 32-bit Windows 10 a few days ago. It won't be licensed to OEMs anymore.

crab rave

[Nyameliaaaa]

@xupefei I request you to forfeit 32's live privileges

[JWiley]

Fully agree about dropping 32bit and only shipping 64bit!

[adyanth]

@xupefei @rabelux Windows 10 on ARM, like on Surface Pro X can only run 32bit x86 apps, not 64bit.

[xupefei]

@adyanth Have you tried to run the MSI/ZIP versions? I don't think it will run due to the use of hooking in QuickLook.

[fredster33]

I agree with 32 bit. Maybe add a big notice of 32 bit depreciation on the Store and project page, and a link to the last version that runs in 32 bit.

[prakharb5]

@xupefei Happening?

[fredster33]

@xupefei @rabelux Windows 10 on ARM, like on Surface Pro X can only run 32bit x86 apps, not 64bit.

That is a very good point that I feel like should be considered.

[adyanth]

With x64 emulation coming even to ARM, I would say this is a non issue right now, and advantages of CefSharp far outweigh the legacy support IMO.

[cbrjay]

Agreed. QuickLook is designed as an efficiency tool. How come you care about any efficiency when you're still using 32-bit Windows nowadays?

[uvery9]

Of course we should give up the 32bits version, this belongs to the old guys in the old world!
Let us welcome the new world!

[SpiritSeal]

Given the target demographic of QuickLook, I think it would be safe to get rid of 32-bit support for future builds.
Though, it may be worth creating a system such that the auto-updater on a 32-bit computer will not automatically update a new, unsupported 64-bit version of the application.

[ghost]

Legit question here: who actually uses 32bit PC's these days?

Government Offices especially for developing country

Then they can compile it themself

[ghost]

Any news here?