Lazarus for Windows on aarch64 (ARM64) - Native Compiler

[msintle]

So, I think the OP's original question is valid. We support an Alpha chip running Tru64 but not the hardware/software combo anyone can buy in their local (computer) shops today ?

Thank you for the support and putting it in better terms than I ever could.

[msintle]

Nice to see everyone has plenty of love for their favorite operating systems
Can we get back on track - what needs to be done to fix FPC so larger apps like Lazarus can be compiled successfully for aarch64 on Windows?

Indeed  From my experience with the trunk compiler, it works in principle for simple programs, but there are two showstopper bugs I have reported:

Win64 AArch64 optimizer bug and Win64 AArch64 exception handling

I already offered to pay anyone in the FPC team who is able to fix those issues (aka offer a bounty), but so far looks like no one is interested.

Was there a pre-set dollar value attached to those bounties?

If there's a value where this would make sense and justify the - I'm sure excruciatingly painful - work involved, I could take it up with my employer, too.

[Wallaby]

Was there a pre-set dollar value attached to those bounties?

If there's a value where this would make sense and justify the - I'm sure excruciatingly painful - work involved, I could take it up with my employer, too.

I think last time, a year ago, I offered $300 US for each with a possibility of increase if it's difficult and takes a lot of time. Yet, it seems no one is interested.

[msintle]

Was there a pre-set dollar value attached to those bounties?

If there's a value where this would make sense and justify the - I'm sure excruciatingly painful - work involved, I could take it up with my employer, too.

I think last time, a year ago, I offered $300 US for each with a possibility of increase if it's difficult and takes a lot of time. Yet, it seems no one is interested.

Where is the place to offer such bounties?

I would like to propose higher amounts and see if anyone bites.

[TRon]

Not that for most (existing) developers money isn't a motivation. It has more to do with interest and schedule. Most developers have heaps of work in front of them already and although money is able to change/influence priorities most do not care about that.

[dsiders]

Where is the place to offer such bounties?
I would like to propose higher amounts and see if anyone bites.

Look to your left. Use the Foundation website link.

[rvk]

Or just search bounty fpc.
It's the first link.

https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Bounties

[PascalDragon]

Not that for most (existing) developers money isn't a motivation. It has more to do with interest and schedule. Most developers have heaps of work in front of them already and although money is able to change/influence priorities most do not care about that.

Correct. I don't care about bounties. If I don't have the motivation/time to work on something I don't have the motivation/time and that is simply not up for discussion. I work on FPC, because I want and not because someone else wants me to work on it.

[mas steindorff]

Or just search bounty fpc.
It's the first link.

https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Bounties

this page was last updated in summer of 2022.  is it still the main bounty page? (I did not do a search)

[msintle]

Not that for most (existing) developers money isn't a motivation. It has more to do with interest and schedule. Most developers have heaps of work in front of them already and although money is able to change/influence priorities most do not care about that.

Correct. I don't care about bounties. If I don't have the motivation/time to work on something I don't have the motivation/time and that is simply not up for discussion. I work on FPC, because I want and not because someone else wants me to work on it.

+1

Do you have any ideas on how to reach people who are both competent in FPC and excited about the aarch64 Windows transition?

[msintle]

I've also launched this job at Upwork:

https://www.upwork.com/jobs/~017b8f1ec5e0058846

As an interim solution to figuring out where the right bounty is to be offered.

[Wallaby]

I've also launched this job at Upwork:
https://www.upwork.com/jobs/~017b8f1ec5e0058846
As an interim solution to figuring out where the right bounty is to be offered.

Thanks for pursuing this! Hopefully someone skilled will respond and get the job done.

It might be worth to mention the job in the dev mailing list list, so that the core developers notice it: https://lists.freepascal.org/pipermail/fpc-devel/

[msintle]

Here's a fresh article from today about Windows on ARM:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/is-the-arm-version-of-windows-ready-for-its-close-up/

[msintle]

Here's another article from mainstream media (read: advertising outlet for manufacturers) regarding upcoming devices:

www.theverge.com/2024/5/15/24157120/dell-windows-on-arm-leak-qualcomm-chips-battery-life

This really is Lazarus's chance to one-up Delphi (which also lacks an ARM64 Win32 compiler) and make huge strides into mindshare - an opportunity that would not be repeated for decades, quite literally!

[Wallaby]

and Microsoft releases new ARM64 devices that are supposed to be as fast as Apple laptops.

Hopefully we can start making ARM64 apps soon with Lazarus.