MATLAB Central Newsreader - Why no 64-bit support for Mac OS?

Why no 64-bit support for Mac OS?

Sridhar Mahadevan — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:06:02 -0500

It seems a bit surprising, given that 64-bit support is
enabled for Windows (XP and Vista) as well as for Linux.

They are all running on the same processors these days.
Also, Mac OS X is based on a Unix kernel, so if Linux 64-
bit support is available, why not for Mac OS?

Can we expect 64-bit support for the Mac platform in the
next release(s)?

- Sridhar

Re: Why no 64-bit support for Mac OS?

Brian Arnold — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:45:55 -0500

Hi Sridhar,

This is what I posted to this newsgroup on December 17, 2007, in
response to the same question:

Hi,

We appreciate all of the interest in having a native 64-bit
implementation on OS X 10.5 Leopard, and we would like to share more
specific information regarding availability.

We have been investigating Mac 64-bit support for quite some time, and
with Leopard's release, we now have many elements reaching a ready state.

Leopard is the first OS X release to have 64-bit libraries "top to
bottom" (Tiger 10.4 only had 64-bit support in the BSD Unix layer,
limiting 64-bit support to non-UI tools and engines). However,
Leopard's Java, which is used heavily by MATLAB Desktop and many
Toolboxes including SimBiology and Distributed Computing Toolbox, is
only 64-bit on Intel-based Macs, so any 64-bit support we would develop
will require Intel. Also, TrollTech Qt, which is used heavily by
Simulink, is not yet available 64-bit for Leopard. This means we may
need to stage 64-bit support, or have a limited MATLAB-only beta.

In the meantime, here is some publicly available information that you
can use to get ready for a 64-bit product:

Intel-based and 64-bit-capable hardware and OS X 10.5 Leopard will be
required to run 64-bit MathWorks software. Not all PowerPCs and not all
Intel-based Macs are 64-bit-capable. Currently, only the PowerPC G5,
Intel Core 2 Duo or Xeon processors support 64-bit; so, the PowerPC G4,
G3 and original Intel Core Duo or Core Solo processors won't be able to
run 64-bit applications.

Stay tuned for information, your enthusiasm and your patience are both
greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian
Mac Developer
The MathWorks, Inc.

Sridhar Mahadevan wrote:
> It seems a bit surprising, given that 64-bit support is
> enabled for Windows (XP and Vista) as well as for Linux.
>
> They are all running on the same processors these days.
> Also, Mac OS X is based on a Unix kernel, so if Linux 64-
> bit support is available, why not for Mac OS?
>
> Can we expect 64-bit support for the Mac platform in the
> next release(s)?
>
> - Sridhar
>

Re: Why no 64-bit support for Mac OS?

neuromath — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:00:04 -0500

On Jan 10, 10:45=A0am, Brian Arnold <barn...@mathworks.com> wrote:
> Hi Sridhar,
>
> This is what I posted to this newsgroup on December 17, 2007, in
> response to the same question:
>
> Hi,
>
> We appreciate all of the interest in having a native 64-bit
> implementation on OS X 10.5 Leopard, and we would like to share more
> specific information regarding availability.
>
> We have been investigating Mac 64-bit support for quite some time, and
> with Leopard's release, we now have many elements reaching a ready state.
>
> Leopard is the first OS X release to have 64-bit libraries "top to
> bottom" (Tiger 10.4 only had 64-bit support in the BSD Unix layer,
> limiting 64-bit support to non-UI tools and engines). =A0However,
> Leopard's Java, which is used heavily by MATLAB Desktop and many
> Toolboxes including SimBiology and Distributed Computing Toolbox, is
> only 64-bit on Intel-based Macs, so any 64-bit support we would develop
> will require Intel. =A0Also, TrollTech Qt, which is used heavily by
> Simulink, is not yet available 64-bit for Leopard. This means we may
> need to stage 64-bit support, or have a limited MATLAB-only beta.
>
> In the meantime, here is some publicly available information that you
> can use to get ready for a 64-bit product:
>
> Intel-based and 64-bit-capable hardware and OS X 10.5 Leopard will be
> required to run 64-bit MathWorks software. Not all PowerPCs and not all
> Intel-based Macs are 64-bit-capable. Currently, only the PowerPC G5,
> Intel Core 2 Duo or Xeon processors support 64-bit; so, the PowerPC G4,
> G3 and original Intel Core Duo or Core Solo processors won't be able to
> run 64-bit applications.
>
> Stay tuned for information, your enthusiasm and your patience are both
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Brian
> Mac Developer
> The MathWorks, Inc.
>

Since the issue has been raised again, I'd just like to inquire about
whether or not the direction was settled regarding with window system
-- is X11-based graphics in some form going to continue to be
supported (many of our primary concerns)? A fast MATLAB desktop
running natively in Aqua on Leopard may convince me yet to switch to
actually using the desktop (which I do not currently at all).

However there should be a way to maintain the basic X11 forwarding/
plotting functionality (and run MATLAB remotely via terminal) and
still have a nice GUI for those who are working at their primary
machine. Probably some or many of us do both, and I certainly do not
want to use slow, difficult-to-secure VNC for my remote MATLAB usage.
I'd much prefer having the lightweight command line availability, as
it represents my core MATLAB usage. I suspect that latter sentiment is
not the majority, though I would be happy to be surprised.

Re: Why no 64-bit support for Mac OS?

Alex — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:01:10 -0500

Hello,

Will there be a 64-bit version of OS X Matlab with R2008a?

For our research group, the main interest comes from the
hope that memory limitations will be improved with a 64-bit
OS X version.

Best,
Alex Brandmeyer

Brian Arnold <barnold@mathworks.com> wrote in message
<47863DB3.4040708@mathworks.com>...
> Hi Sridhar,
>
> This is what I posted to this newsgroup on December 17,
2007, in
> response to the same question:
>
> Hi,
>
> We appreciate all of the interest in having a native 64-bit
> implementation on OS X 10.5 Leopard, and we would like to
share more
> specific information regarding availability.
>
> We have been investigating Mac 64-bit support for quite
some time, and
> with Leopard's release, we now have many elements reaching
a ready state.
>
> Leopard is the first OS X release to have 64-bit libraries
"top to
> bottom" (Tiger 10.4 only had 64-bit support in the BSD
Unix layer,
> limiting 64-bit support to non-UI tools and engines).
However,
> Leopard's Java, which is used heavily by MATLAB Desktop
and many
> Toolboxes including SimBiology and Distributed Computing
Toolbox, is
> only 64-bit on Intel-based Macs, so any 64-bit support we
would develop
> will require Intel. Also, TrollTech Qt, which is used
heavily by
> Simulink, is not yet available 64-bit for Leopard. This
means we may
> need to stage 64-bit support, or have a limited
MATLAB-only beta.
>
> In the meantime, here is some publicly available
information that you
> can use to get ready for a 64-bit product:
>
> Intel-based and 64-bit-capable hardware and OS X 10.5
Leopard will be
> required to run 64-bit MathWorks software. Not all
PowerPCs and not all
> Intel-based Macs are 64-bit-capable. Currently, only the
PowerPC G5,
> Intel Core 2 Duo or Xeon processors support 64-bit; so,
the PowerPC G4,
> G3 and original Intel Core Duo or Core Solo processors
won't be able to
> run 64-bit applications.
>
> Stay tuned for information, your enthusiasm and your
patience are both
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Brian
> Mac Developer
> The MathWorks, Inc.
>
> Sridhar Mahadevan wrote:
> > It seems a bit surprising, given that 64-bit support is
> > enabled for Windows (XP and Vista) as well as for Linux.
> >
> > They are all running on the same processors these days.
> > Also, Mac OS X is based on a Unix kernel, so if Linux 64-
> > bit support is available, why not for Mac OS?
> >
> > Can we expect 64-bit support for the Mac platform in the
> > next release(s)?
> >
> > - Sridhar
> >

Re: Why no 64-bit support for Mac OS?

Laurent Demanet — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:02:02 -0500

Dear Brian,
I am also eagerly looking forward to a 64-bit version of Matlab for Leopard
on Mac/Intel. So please keep up the good work! It would nicely complement
the recent release of the new Mac Pro. Thanks for keeping us posted.
Go Brian!
Laurent

"Alex " <a.brandmeyer@email.com> wrote in message
<fmf8cm$9j9$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> Hello,
>
> Will there be a 64-bit version of OS X Matlab with R2008a?
>
> For our research group, the main interest comes from the
> hope that memory limitations will be improved with a 64-bit
> OS X version.
>
> Best,
> Alex Brandmeyer
>
> Brian Arnold <barnold@mathworks.com> wrote in message
> <47863DB3.4040708@mathworks.com>...
> > Hi Sridhar,
> >
> > This is what I posted to this newsgroup on December 17,
> 2007, in
> > response to the same question:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > We appreciate all of the interest in having a native 64-bit
> > implementation on OS X 10.5 Leopard, and we would like to
> share more
> > specific information regarding availability.
> >
> > We have been investigating Mac 64-bit support for quite
> some time, and
> > with Leopard's release, we now have many elements reaching
> a ready state.
> >
> > Leopard is the first OS X release to have 64-bit libraries
> "top to
> > bottom" (Tiger 10.4 only had 64-bit support in the BSD
> Unix layer,
> > limiting 64-bit support to non-UI tools and engines).
> However,
> > Leopard's Java, which is used heavily by MATLAB Desktop
> and many
> > Toolboxes including SimBiology and Distributed Computing
> Toolbox, is
> > only 64-bit on Intel-based Macs, so any 64-bit support we
> would develop
> > will require Intel. Also, TrollTech Qt, which is used
> heavily by
> > Simulink, is not yet available 64-bit for Leopard. This
> means we may
> > need to stage 64-bit support, or have a limited
> MATLAB-only beta.
> >
> > In the meantime, here is some publicly available
> information that you
> > can use to get ready for a 64-bit product:
> >
> > Intel-based and 64-bit-capable hardware and OS X 10.5
> Leopard will be
> > required to run 64-bit MathWorks software. Not all
> PowerPCs and not all
> > Intel-based Macs are 64-bit-capable. Currently, only the
> PowerPC G5,
> > Intel Core 2 Duo or Xeon processors support 64-bit; so,
> the PowerPC G4,
> > G3 and original Intel Core Duo or Core Solo processors
> won't be able to
> > run 64-bit applications.
> >
> > Stay tuned for information, your enthusiasm and your
> patience are both
> > greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Brian
> > Mac Developer
> > The MathWorks, Inc.
> >
> > Sridhar Mahadevan wrote:
> > > It seems a bit surprising, given that 64-bit support is
> > > enabled for Windows (XP and Vista) as well as for Linux.
> > >
> > > They are all running on the same processors these days.
> > > Also, Mac OS X is based on a Unix kernel, so if Linux 64-
> > > bit support is available, why not for Mac OS?
> > >
> > > Can we expect 64-bit support for the Mac platform in the
> > > next release(s)?
> > >
> > > - Sridhar
> > >
>