[Feature Request] Support 32-bit Linux

[optio50]

Linux Mint 17.10 32 Bit

curl -s https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt/keys.asc | sudo apt-key add -

echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt xenial main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/signal-xenial.list

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install signal-desktop

Hit:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful InRelease
Hit:2 https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt xenial InRelease                                                                                                          
Hit:3 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates InRelease                                                                                                     
Hit:4 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-security InRelease                                                   
Hit:5 http://ppa.launchpad.net/stellarium/stellarium-releases/ubuntu artful InRelease                               
Hit:6 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu artful InRelease                                    
Hit:7 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-backports InRelease    
Reading package lists... Done                      
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package signal-desktop

[scottnonnenberg]

I think it could be because you're using a 32-bit distribution, and our builds are for 64-bit distributions. Is there a particular reason you're on a 32-bit distro?

[optio50]

Low power system.

Intel Celeron 1.40GHz 2G Ram

[optio50]

Thx

[spacealiens]

I have the same issue @scottnonnenberg , do you have a 32 bit release yet?

[scottnonnenberg]

@spacealiens No, not yet. Can you tell me why you need 32-bit support? Most devices out there are 64-bit these days.

[spacealiens]

@scottnonnenberg , point taken. I will backup my home dir and format/re-install 64bit version. Thx!

[jonazc]

some users I support still need to use 32bit OS because the device does not support 64bit. I don't know for how much people out there this applies, but just to report that it would be very good to have a working 32bit version to support these users.

Anyway, it would be important to mention on the download page that its only supported for 64bit!

[amix73]

I would love to have a 32bit version. Still use my old trusty Macbook A1181 (white plastic box: 3GB Ram) with Linux and it runs perfectly (but I only could get 32bit Linux to run). Would be topnotch having signal on this machine.
Thanks!

[spacealiens]

Also, it's worthwhile to mention that most nations of the world use low end, low power processors and can't afford or have newer and next gen processors which run 64bit OS-es. Many of our oversea clients stations are all legacy and run 32 bit OS-es. These people are most vulnerable from surveillance states and weak civil liberties, and are the users who need our support most.

[dragetd]

It might be worth mentioning that running a 32bit system on hardware like @optio50 described does not necessarily save power. The CPUs queues have a higher throughput and a lot of recent software is also optimized in that direction.

You might get somewhat better performance and even (very small) less power consumption if you would be running 64bit. The only downside can be slightly higher memory requirements in a few situations.

Running 32bit only makes sense on CPUs that actually only support 32bit (or very early amd64 cpus like Opterons).

If we talk about saving power, we should talk about arm builds for SBCs like RPi or such. On the x86 side, a modern Intel NUC System with a modern (64bit) lower-power CPU will draw sub-10W when idle, less than such old celeron systems.

That being said, the download page certainly misses the note 'Only for 64bit xenial based distributions'!

[elypter]

yeah. at least mention that it is only 64 bit. you dont get an appropriate error message when using the official instructions. it just sais package not found which is confusing since it finds them if you use apt search or tabulator autocomplete.

i am also runnig a laptop with a 32bit cpu. the laptop is fast enough for daily use, is silent and has a power saving T2080 cpu. the only problem i get with this decive is when applications choose to drop 32bit support.

[zero-point]

I also mistakenly started using Signal assuming it had 32bit support. As my laptop can't handle 64bit, I'll have to look for alternatives. Please specify that you don't provide this support, it's misleading otherwise.

[JarbasAl]

i also need support for 32 bit system

[NitroNils]

+1
There are millions of 32bit systems out there.
Again: especially where secure communications are needed!
Please don't exclude people based on their poor hardware situation!
Where do you think all the old CPU's went?
Hint: Charity and e-waste (both major in 3rd world countries).

[dragetd]

Please note: We are talking about adding 32bit builds to the repository.

You can of course build Signal yourself.

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

Thanks everyone for your input on this, locking the issue for now. I'm not sure what repository @dragetd is talking about; it's not this one.