Re: [gentoo-user] 32 bit firefox on 64 bit system

[Jorge Almeida]

On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 1:55 AM, R0b0t1 <r030t1@×××××.com> wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 4, 2017 at 4:22 AM, Jorge Almeida <jjalmeida@×××××.com> wrote:
>> Is it possible?
>>
>
> Yes, the most straightforward way I know of is to use crossdev to
> create an i[3456]86 GCC and compile it with the corresponding
> cross-emerge executable. It will then install to /usr/$ARCH and you
> should be able to copy it to your root.

I've compiled 32 bit stuff before, using a chroot environment from a
musl-based distro. But that would produce a static executable. For a
beast like ff and a glibc environment, I fear this would not work, or
at least it would be a time sink to make it work, which I cannot
afford.

I was hoping some USE variable et al. would do the job, given that I
already have multilib USE variable, but I suppose it's not that
simple.

I think I'll give chromium a try, although last time I tried it was a
CPU hog, specially with Youtube...
(Not to mention that I don't trust Google...)

>

>
> I'm inclined to disagree with your determination that switching to a
> 64bit OS caused the slowdown, but, at the same time, you're the one

Maybe, but I'm out of alternatives.

> who was there to notice the correlation. If your determination is
> correct it may be best to go back to a 32bit system - unlike ARM64
> processors, which seem to suffer spectacularly when operating in 32bit
> - early x86_64 processors may not have a penalty or be faster in the
> more restricted mode.

The reason I tried a 64 bit system was not speed-related: it is said
some software just doesn't work on 32 bit systems (e.g., widevine,
which I don't need, BTW), and I suppose that is a trend, so I thought
I might try 64 bit. Not a great choice, I guess.

>
> When this kind of question comes up I tend to bring up the opportunity
> to upgrade the computer as well. This tends to have many benefits in
> regards to power usage and overall system responsiveness, but I
> understand if it's not possible. I would point out that technology is
> usually amortized over a 3 year period and conventional wisdom
> dictates if you keep a computer longer than that as a business you are
> losing money due to opportunity cost of using and maintaining older
> and slower hardware.

This is a home computer. I do have another one, but this is the silent
one (no internal power supply unit). I don't know of similar
alternatives (silent for music listening, low power consumption, but
powerful enough for everyday computing-- I don't use for compiling the
gentoo packages)

Thanks

Jorge