| Google prepping 64-bit browser for Linux |
Aug. 24, 2009
 Google's Chromium project announced it is working on its first 64-bit version of its Chrome web browser, which will will arrive first on Linux. Meanwhile, Linux is increasingly driving development of 64-bit software -- simply because Linux power users are demanding it, says an industry blog.
The mailing-list entry from the Chromium project's Dean McNamee last Thursday did not mention an expected launch date for the 64-bit Linux version of the Chromium browser, but suggested that the build was progressing nicely. Chromium, which is an open source version of the Windows Vista-based Chrome browser for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows XP, was recently made available in a 32-bit developers version for Linux.
"The v8 team did some amazing work this quarter building a working 64-bit port," writes McNamee, speaking of Google's V8 Javascript engine. "After a handful of changes on the Chromium side, I've had Chromium Linux building on 64-bit for the last few weeks. I believe mmoss or tony is going to get a buildbot running, and working on packaging. "
Ubuntu users keen on Chromium
Although Chrome may not displace Firefox anytime soon as the leading browser on Linux desktops, there has been considerable demand for the browser among Linux users. McNamee points to the Chromium Daily Build Personal Package Archive (PPA), maintained by Ubuntu contributor Fabien Tassin (see link below), where unofficial, experimental 64-bit Chromium builds are available. According to a blog by Canonical's Jorge Castro, the 32-bit Chromium builds for Ubuntu on the PPA site have already received over 10,000 downloads.
Linux users have also been shaking the Google tree for a 64-bit version of Chromium, says a CNET blog by Stephen Shankland. Although Shankland does not mention it, the momentum behind a 64-bit version from both Google and Linux users may well have been heightened by Google's Chrome OS announcement earlier this summer. Due sometime next year, the cloud-oriented operating system for netbooks is based on Linux, as well as the Chrome browser.
Even without the Chrome OS angle, it is not that surprising to see Linux leading 64-bit development. As Shankland points out, Linux and Mac users tend to be the first to demand 64-bit versions of software, primarily due to the larger percentage of technical users on the platforms. The phenomenon was seen most notably last November when Adobe released an early version of its 64-bit version of a Flash Player 10 initially for Linux.
A 64-bit application can exploit larger amounts of memory registers to improve performance, and can often accelerate mathematically intense computing tasks, writes Shankland. However, 64-bit ports are not often made high priority due to the development time consumed. In many cases, 64-bit versions do not result in significant performance improvements, writes Shankland. What's more, many 64-bit programs have trouble running 32-bit plug-ins, he adds, and the software can consume more disk space than 32-bit versions.
All these reasons may be behind the lack of a 64-bit Firefox build, says Shankland, referring to a recent Mozilla.dev.platform discussion of the issue. Perhaps Google is hoping that a 64-bit Chrome can lure away more Linux power users to Chrome -- and possibly inspire interest in developing for Chrome OS.
Availability
The Google Chromium notice about the 64-bit Chrome browser for Linux should be here, with some more technical details available here.
The Chromium Daily Build PPA may be found here.
The Chromium build index for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows XP 32-bit versions may be found here.
The Canonical blog on the popularity of the Chromium downloads should be here.
The Shankland story on CNET may be found here.
-- Eric Brown
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