Windows-x86 (32-bit) build is broken. Time to retire it?

[Dalibor Topic]

The last supported 32-bit Windows goes out of support in October 2025, if I'm not mistaken. So between now and the next LTS, the removal of the port would be in order, as it wouldn't really be worth still having the port in the next LTS when at that point, given a six-monthly release cycle, 32-bit Windows would only have a remaining support span that would be measured in weeks.

So there are only two viable options for that port: either a removal in JDK 23 or a removal in JDK 24. I think given that it appears to be unmaintained, sooner might be better than later, but in any case filing a JEP for removal of the port would signal to those who want to continue to maintain it themselves for another 6 months to step up to the plate.

cheers,
dalibor topic
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________________________________________
From: jdk-dev <jdk-dev-retn at openjdk.org> on behalf of Eric Bresie <ebresie at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2023 9:37 PM
To: Magnus Ihse Bursie
Cc: Stewart Addison; jdk-dev at openjdk.org
Subject: Re: Windows-x86 (32-bit) build is broken. Time to retire it?

Just curious if anyone has any visibility as to how widely 32-bit windows may still be in use?
I’d imagine there could still be a lot of older systems (and maybe some embedded case) with 32bit windows still in use which the removal risks some possible bad vibes for that user base.

Although I guess if they’re not updating to newer Windows (and hardware), they may not be upgrading Java without 32bit Windows support either.

On Thu, Dec 7, 2023 at 5:38 AM Magnus Ihse Bursie <magnus.ihse.bursie at oracle.com<mailto:magnus.ihse.bursie at oracle.com>> wrote:
On 2023-12-06 11:22, Stewart Addison wrote:

>
> I think there's a discussion to be had here regarding 32-bit support
> in general going forward - I have a specific question about arm32 and
> whether anyone is actively maintaining that one but perhaps that's a
> matter for another thread unless anyone wants to jump in and say
> they'll be keeping arm32 alive in the codebase.

Obviously the glory days of 32-bit support are over. But I'm guessing it
will be some more time before all 32-bit code can be dropped. So I think
it is important not to conflate dropping general 32-bit support with the
more specific case of dropping win32. The former is more about cpu
support, the latter more about os support.

Arm32 in specific has never had any really active backers; it seems to
be slowly dying but is apparently still on life-support. Let's keep that
out of the win32 discussion.

/Magnus