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by TeddyBear060 3037 days ago
Ok, but is it so complicated to test the computer arch in order to install the correct flavour?
1 comments

100% of 64-bit computers run 32-bit programs. The vast majority of users never know or care what arch is installed. The only time most people care about bit-ness (word?) is if they are 64-bit trying to run an ancient 16-bit program.

This isn't VHS vs Bluray; it's much harder to explain why there is an advantage when it can't be seen. The 64 not version isn't 35% faster, or has dozens of new features. It's mainly just compiled differently, and it is hard to explain memory limits and instruction sets to people.

Totally agree with the first part.

But, does a program can use more than 4GB of RAM if it's compiled in 32-bit and executed into a 64-bit environnement (with more than 4GB of memory)?

I imagine that the answer is between yes and no.

I imagine that you, as developer, can choose between limiting your program not to use more than 4GB or let the system (host) do the memory re-mapping job for you...

But what about reliability in this case?