Launcher Not Compatible With Intel/x86_64 MacOS Unlike Python Script

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Introduction

The launcher is a tool used by various projects, including trino and prestodb, to manage and run their applications. However, when it comes to running on Intel/x86_64 macOS, the launcher encounters a compatibility issue. This issue arises from the fact that the $(arch) command on Intel/x86_64 macOS returns i386, which is not handled by the launcher. In this article, we will delve into the details of this issue and explore possible solutions.

The Problem

The problem lies in the way the $(arch) command is used to determine the architecture of the system. On Intel/x86_64 macOS, the $(arch) command returns i386, which is a 32-bit architecture. However, the launcher does not have a case for this architecture, resulting in a compatibility issue.

# launcher/src/main/resources/launcher
# ...

case $(arch) in
  arm64) arch="arm64" ;;
  x86_64) arch="x86_64" ;;
  i386) arch="i386" ;;
  *) arch="unknown" ;;
esac

As we can see, the launcher only has cases for arm64 and x86_64 architectures, but not for i386. This is because there is no way to distinguish between 32-bit and 64-bit macOS architectures using the $(arch) command.

The Issue with $(arch)

The $(arch) command is not a reliable way to determine the architecture of the system. On Intel/x86_64 macOS, it returns i386, which is a 32-bit architecture. However, this does not necessarily mean that the system is running in 32-bit mode. In fact, the system is running in 64-bit mode, but the $(arch) command returns the 32-bit architecture.

This is because the $(arch) command returns the architecture of the system as it was compiled, not as it is running. In other words, it returns the architecture of the system as it was compiled for the compiler, not as it is running on the system.

A Better Solution: uname -m

A better solution to this problem is to use the uname -m command to determine the architecture of the system. This command returns the machine type, which is a more accurate way to determine the architecture of the system.

# launcher/src/main/resources/launcher
# ...

case $(uname -m) in
  arm64) arch="arm64" ;;
  x86_64) arch="x86_64" ;;
  i386) arch="i386" ;;
  *) arch="unknown" ;;
esac

As we can see, the uname -m command returns the machine type, which is a more accurate way to determine the architecture of the system. This is because the uname -m command returns the architecture of the system as it is running, not as it was compiled.

Comparison with Python Script

The prestodb project still uses a Python script to manage and run its applications. This script uses the sys.platform variable to determine the architecture of the system.

# prestodb/airlift/launcher/src/main/scripts/bin/launcher.py
# ...

import sys

if sys.platform == 'darwin':
    arch = 'x86_64'
elif sys.platform == 'linux':
    arch = 'x86_64'
elif sys.platform == 'win32':
    arch = 'x86_64'
else:
    arch = 'unknown'

As we can see, the Python script uses the sys.platform variable to determine the architecture of the system. This is a more accurate way to determine the architecture of the system, as it returns the architecture of the system as it is running, not as it was compiled.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the launcher is not compatible with Intel/x86_64 macOS due to the fact that the $(arch) command returns i386, which is not handled by the launcher. A better solution to this problem is to use the uname -m command to determine the architecture of the system. This is a more accurate way to determine the architecture of the system, as it returns the architecture of the system as it is running, not as it was compiled.

Future Work

In the future, it would be beneficial to update the launcher to use the uname -m command to determine the architecture of the system. This would make the launcher more compatible with Intel/x86_64 macOS and other systems that return i386 as the architecture.

References

Q&A: Launcher Compatibility Issues

Q: What is the issue with the launcher on Intel/x86_64 macOS? A: The issue lies in the way the $(arch) command is used to determine the architecture of the system. On Intel/x86_64 macOS, the $(arch) command returns i386, which is a 32-bit architecture. However, the launcher does not have a case for this architecture, resulting in a compatibility issue.

**Q: Why does the (arch)commandreturni386onIntel/x8664macOS?∗∗A:The‘(arch) command return i386 on Intel/x86_64 macOS?** A: The `(arch)` command returns the architecture of the system as it was compiled, not as it is running. In other words, it returns the architecture of the system as it was compiled for the compiler, not as it is running on the system.

Q: What is a better solution to determine the architecture of the system? A: A better solution is to use the uname -m command to determine the architecture of the system. This command returns the machine type, which is a more accurate way to determine the architecture of the system.

Q: How does the Python script in prestodb handle the architecture of the system? A: The Python script in prestodb uses the sys.platform variable to determine the architecture of the system. This is a more accurate way to determine the architecture of the system, as it returns the architecture of the system as it is running, not as it was compiled.

Q: What are the implications of not using a reliable method to determine the architecture of the system? A: Not using a reliable method to determine the architecture of the system can lead to compatibility issues and errors. In the case of the launcher, it is not compatible with Intel/x86_64 macOS due to the fact that the $(arch) command returns i386, which is not handled by the launcher.

Q: How can the launcher be updated to use a reliable method to determine the architecture of the system? A: The launcher can be updated to use the uname -m command to determine the architecture of the system. This would make the launcher more compatible with Intel/x86_64 macOS and other systems that return i386 as the architecture.

Q: What are the benefits of using a reliable method to determine the architecture of the system? A: Using a reliable method to determine the architecture of the system can ensure that the launcher is compatible with a wide range of systems and architectures. This can make the launcher more versatile and easier to use.

Q: Can the launcher be made compatible with other systems that return i386 as the architecture? A: Yes, the launcher can be made compatible with other systems that return i386 as the architecture by using the uname -m command to determine the architecture of the system.

Q: What are the next steps to update the launcher to use a reliable method to determine the architecture of the system? A: The next steps to update the launcher to use a reliable method to determine the architecture of the system would be to update the launcher to use the uname -m command and to test the launcher on a wide range of systems and architectures.

Q: How can the community get involved in updating the launcher to use a reliable method to determine the architecture of the system? A: The community can get involved in updating the launcher to use a reliable method to determine the architecture of the system by contributing to the launcher project, testing the launcher on a wide range of systems and architectures, and providing feedback and suggestions for improvement.

References