Termux-packages: "droppping 5.0 support in the near future" ?

[bukzor]

Branched from https://github.com/termux/termux-packages/issues/2071.

@fornwall commented on Feb 14
Note that RUNPATH requires android 7.0 or later, while Termux currently supports Android 5.0 or later. I'm thinking of droppping 5.0 support in the near future, while 6.0 will be supported longer, so we cannot do the LD_LIBRARY_PATH-> RUNPATH transition just yet.

@sdrausty commented 13 hours ago
Why are you thinking about this? What is the motivation?

[fornwall]

Thanks! In general, the reason for dropping old platform support is:

• Diminishing returns (fewer and fewer users are running old platform versions as devices are upgraded or replaced).
• More and more people are using newer platform versions.
• It makes more sense to focus on newer platform and allow using features from those.
• It's easier to develop for if one does not have to test on and design around limitations in old platform versions.

[bukzor]

What are some of the limitations of Lollipop that currently constrain the design?

[SDRausty]

A Linux kernel is a Linux kernel. Do you agree? I do have an Android KitKat device awaiting Termux:

$ gplaycli --search Termux
Title                          Creator           Size      Downloads              Last Update  AppID                             Version  Rating
Termux                         Fredrik Fornwall  217.83KB  1,000,000+ downloads   25 Jan 2018  com.termux                        60       4.72
Termux:API                     Fredrik Fornwall  69.94KB   50,000+ downloads      4 Feb 2018   com.termux.api                    16       4.73
Hacker's Keyboard              Klaus Weidner     1.20MB    1,000,000+ downloads   10 Dec 2016  org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard  1039003  4.44
Terminal Emulator for Android  Jack Palevich     551.44KB  10,000,000+ downloads  15 Apr 2015  jackpal.androidterm               71       4.40
Terminal IDE                   Spartacus Rex     47.56MB   1,000,000+ downloads   3 Mar 2013   com.spartacusrex.spartacuside     102      4.35

It does run Terminal Emulator for Android by Jack Palevich well. Maybe a stripped down modular version of a conforming to Android version Termux for Android 4 will also become real. This Android versioning topic is repeated in numerous issues. A modular Termux that conforms to its' environment should be able to accommodate Android versions galore, as many as desired. Is this idea doable in a fairly simple way?

[its-pointless]

There is a way around some of the constraints. The ndk static libs have been updated. So missing math stuff can be added from the libm.a static lib.
Im guessing some of the libc stuff can be added from libc.a.

[Hax4us]

I have also 5.0 ... Don't drop support please And there are many KitKats also , waiting for termux :)
And I know its time for 7.0 , but trust me there are many users including me with 5.0 :)

[SDRausty]

Inclusiveness dictated through computer programming expertise; It appears 'the community' demands this time and again; Can this be accomplished via Termux?

[tomty89]

I think the appropriate time to drop lollipop support in Termux might the time Google drops theirs. That said, only if it is affordable to wait until then.