Patchwork: Add 32-bit images for GNU-Linux

[strypey]

Many of the people SSB would be of interest to are folk like me, who live on the smell of an oily rag (and sometimes in an oily rag), and can't afford new computers, or even newer 2nd-hand computers. We would really appreciate 32-bit images being made available, so we can get on the ocean, without having to build our own boat from rough-sawn timber first. If you provide images for 32-bit, they will work on 64-bit PCs too. It's analogous to the way that if you put on a feast, any food you provide that's vegan can be eaten by anyone present (except maybe the gluten-free people, umm ...).

So ... the Issue is you don't seem to have 32-bit images available for download (especially for GNU-Linux), can that be done? Thanks heaps. Keep up the great work!

[mmckegg]

Related to https://github.com/ssbc/patchwork/issues/733

Yep, there's no reason we can't build for these platforms. I'll will see if we can update the build script so that 32bit versions are included in the releases.

[strypey]

That would be awesome! Thanks a lot for looking into this.

[stale[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[strypey]

So, any progress on this? Also, I have an older mobile device, running Android 4.2.2 and F-Droid tells me that's too old to use the one SSB client it has available. I know that backwards compatibility for older devices adds a lot of dev and maintenance work, but it also has the potential to make the Scuttle-verse accessible to many more low income people. Also, the more older devices are supported by current software, the less working hardware will end up in the e-waste stream.

[christianbundy]

@strypey I don't think there's been any progress on this, but if you check out the patchwork-builder repo you may be able to add 32-bit Linux support. Would an AppImage work on your device, or would you need it packaged another way?

[strypey]

My understanding is that other methods require installing Node.js, which I did during a hackathon a couple of months back, and found it involves a lot of tinkering. An App Image I can just download and run, so that seems like the ideal solution for allowing newbies like myself to test drive an SSB client :-)

[amuuza]

Hi. Same as @strypey here. I would also like to install Patchwork on GNU+Linux 32-bit machines.
Please, this is a solarpunk request, so that those who don't own the latest technologies can join too!

[strypey]

@amuza you might be pleased to know that Trisquel GNU/Linux will provide 32-bit images of version 9.0 (Etiona), based off Ubuntu 18.04. Presumably with a Mate desktop, as in version 8.0. This means we will
have support for our old 32-bit PCs until 2028! If they are still working by then, I'll be very impressed :)

I know, this is a way off-topic, but us 32-bit freaks have to stick together!

EDIT: typo, formatting

[stale[bot]]

Is this still relevant? If so, what is blocking it? Is there anything you can do to help move it forward?

[christianbundy]

It looks like Electron has discontinued support for 32-bit Linux, so I don't think we'll be able to help with this. Highly recommend Patchfoo for a Scuttlebutt client that will run inside a web browser (with no JS!): https://github.com/ssbc/patchfoo

[strypey]

It looks like Electron has discontinued support for 32-bit Linux

Yet another good reason to not use Electron for native desktop apps ;) Thanks for the tip though, I'll check out Patchfoo.

[christianbundy]