64bit client

  • Any plans for a 64bit client on Windows and if not, why not?

  • I'm not sure it's needed for a little program like this.

  • Well the future is 64bit (or more) only, so better move now :) Also quite a few benefits from going 64, probably not for flux though.

  • Yeah, probably not.

    I think they will move to 64-bit when they need to. It's not needed yet.

  • Any news here?

  • I think the only way they will ever create a 64-bit version of F.lux is if they become forced into it someday due to compatibility (like when 32-bit support from operating systems truly becomes obsolete). Do a bit of research on the subject of 32-bit programs vs. 64-bit programs, and you will find that the only real benefit would be the potential of extra security that 64-bit programs can have, but it would come at a cost of much more work for the developer because they would have to be developing and supporting both a 32-bit and 64-bit version of the program.

    So, for them to create a 64-bit version would give them double the workload they have now. It just wouldn't be worth it in the least bit and it wouldn't make any sense for them to go to all of the trouble of making and supporting a 64-bit version right now on top of their 32-bit version.

    Here's just one of many articles I found that I learned this (and more) from: https://www.howtogeek.com/194119/why-are-most-programs-still-32-bit-on-a-64-bit-version-of-windows/

    The only other benefit of 64-bit besides the potential for better security is that a 64-bit program can use more than 4 GB of memory. F.lux uses only 8-9 MB (yes, that's 8 to 9 Megabytes). There are 4,096 MB in 4 GB, so there's no risk whatsoever of F.lux ever needing so much memory that we would ever see or feel any difference from a 64-bit version.

    There's no argument to be had though about any performance benefits with a 64-bit F.lux (I see lots of people claiming 64-bit always provides better performance). The only time you see a performance benefit is with programs or games that can benefit from using more than 4 GB of memory. In such cases, the 64-bit version would definitely provide better performance due to being able to use as much memory as it needs to, instead of being restricted to 4 GB in the 32-bit version.

    I get that 32-bit support will be just as obsolete as 16-bit someday (I get that 64-bit is "the future"), but I think we should trust good developers, such as the one who makes F.lux. I am just about 100% confident that I could guarantee you that when a 64-bit version of F.lux becomes necessary due to 32-bit finally becoming 100% obsolete, they will create it and it won't be too late. As of right now though, creating a 64-bit version would mean they would have two versions of F.lux for each operating system to keep updating and improving and providing support for: a 32-bit version, and a 64-bit version. One version for each OS is plenty of work for them as it is, and as of today, it has to be a 32-bit version for the sake of compatibility for everyone.

    So, I think we should stop asking them for a 64-bit version. I think they will make a 64-bit version when it becomes safe to discontinue the 32-bit version.