14.2/multi-lib: what do you use it for?
 

Hi everyone.

I know way-back we started using multi-lib as a way to run software like firefox which was only available in 32-bit pre-compiled executables, 32-bit plugins, etc.. even while running a 64-bit kernel and main libs.

I'm guessing that in 2016, things have advanced some. I can now run a 64-bit firefox. Even flash has a 64-bit version :-)

My question is: what are some common packages/programs that multilib is still needed for? I generally run firefox/thunderbird/seamonkey/chrome (a mix of all 4) and heavily rely on Citrix ICAclient (Xenapp client? whatever, the thing that launches .ica sessions). At times, I run java, tcl/tk, k3b, vmware player and libreoffice.

I THINK all of those are available as native 64-bit packages now. So I'm just wondering if I still NEED multi-lib, or if just installing the 64-bit version of 14.2 would be enough?

Thoughts/comments?

Skype.

I use multilib for wine, virtualbox (only to build it), and steam. Currently I am running full x86_64 without multilib because I am not doing any gaming. I have no need for multilib for any other reason.

I suppose I would probably run anything 32 bit at this point in KVM/qemu.

Mostly games that have never been ported to 64bit.

Google-earth.

WINE, for an old "talking" electronic dictionary from 1994.

There are one or two others things, but they don't come to mind at the moment.

Edit in: Adobe Reader (hernanmedellin's post jogged my memory :) ).

How do you guys track multilib updates?

slackpkg+

http://slakfinder.org/slackpkg+.html

The old fashion way. :)
I check Alien Bob's Blog every now and then for updates and manually install
them. Not as time saving as slackpkg+, but it keeps me off the streets
and out of the bars.
:D

14.2/multi-lib: what do you use it for?
 

Eric has a rss feed for multilib repo (as for other repos) on his blog. I always launch newsbeuter with my mutt instances ;-)

If I use it, Wine32.

I need it for my Brother printer driver. Only a couple of CUPS packages and the glibc-solibs package are needed for that, not a full-blown multilib environment.

gargamel

Thanks everyone.

Seems like I might be able to get away without multilib on my workstation. My file server is already 64-bit only..

wine, skype and Unreal Tournament 2004. :)

Android Studio needs it.

Teamviewer ... Adobe Reader ...