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Comment by jakobegger | Hacker News Reader

This is a pity. I have an app that uses ARC on 64bit, and GC on 32bit. Allowed me to ditch manual memory management without dropping support for 32bit machines.

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Is there still demand for 32 bit apps? The last 32-bit mac was released in 2006 and the last OS 32 bit OS in 2009?

The most recent version of Microsoft Office for OS X is still 32-bit, still uses the deprecated event system, and still uses deprecated file I/O functions ... Remember resource forks?

The most recent released version of Office for Mac is also from 2010.

If I wasn't clear, my question was the opposite, not is there still demand to run 32-bit software, but is there demand for new 32-bit software from people who can't run 64-bit.

I've assumed anybody with a almost 10 year old computer doesn't get that much new software. I tend to release supporting the last 2 or 3 OS releases and 64-bit only and haven't received any complaints.

I did indeed misinterpret. To answer that way, I'm not personally aware of anyone demanding new apps targeted to 32-bit on OS X. As an OS X developer, I'm averse to the idea of starting a new app with that as a target.

I still use my 2006 iMac occasionally, so I care. Macs live a lot longer than phones.

However, you are right, there is little demand for 32bit software; my newer apps require 64bit. But I see no reason to cut off support in an old product.

I did the same, it was a neat solution. I recently saw the writing on the wall and dropped the 32-bit support.

Had one or two complaints from existing 32 bit users but not much really.

It is nice to have a single complication target now.

> It is nice to have a single complication target now.

I'm not sure if this was a typo or intentional but I like it.

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