What would be nice is if they could build 64 bit Linux apps rather than sticking with 32 bit. Most of the world has moved on from 32 bit and Linux isn't the best at 32 bit compatibility.

The trouble with that is, the code belongs to the Met Office and isn't open source. Even if Oxford did have a licence to alter it, at over a million lines of Fortran it isn't a trivial task.

Dave Jackson -


I see that the "sched_request_climateprediction.net.xml" file contains the BOINC version number(s).

If version 7.8.3 in fact "solves" the "too many zip files" issue, it would seem like it shouldn't be too difficult to start sending work to those users with 7.8.3 installed.

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What would be nice is if they could build 64 bit Linux apps rather than sticking with 32 bit. Most of the world has moved on from 32 bit and Linux isn't the best at 32 bit compatibility.

The trouble with that is, the code belongs to the Met Office and isn't open source. Even if Oxford did have a licence to alter it, at over a million lines of Fortran it isn't a trivial task.

They should be able to build a 64 bit version without any code changes. Fortran being a high level language doesn’t have any bit-ness.

I wouldn’t expect any speed advantage, just the ability to run it without having to fiddle with 32 bit libraries.

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BOINC blog

They should be able to build a 64 bit version without any code changes. Fortran being a high level language doesn’t have any bit-ness.

I don't know what else is in there apart from the Fortran. I know some is in some version of C. It would need one of the programmers from the project or a moderator with a greater knowledge of the setup than I know/remember to give a full answer. Even then, my level of expertise may not let me understand it!

BOINC version 7.8.4 is now the recommended release for MacOS

This is available on the BOINC download site:
https://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php


This release fixes the calculation of GPU memory when running under Mac OS 10.13.x -- High Sierra

Apple have said that High Sierra will be the last to support 32 bit apps.

Apple announced more information during their Platforms State of the Union presentation at WWDC 2017.

The transition to 64-bit-only Mac apps is going to take place very similarly to how we handled it on iOS. Most importantly, High Sierra is going to be the last macOS release to fully support 32-bit apps without compromises. In the next major release after High Sierra, you're going to aggressively start warning users if apps are not compatible for 64-bit. You're updating the Mac App Store rules accordingly.

In about six months, you'll require that all new apps submitted to the Mac App Store will be 64-bit capable and, in a year from now, will require all new apps and updates to existing apps to be 64-bit only when submitted to the Mac App Store.

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BOINC blog

Hi all -- BOINC Version 7.8.5 for Mac OS will be released shortly.

Here is a note from Charlie Fenton on the release:

I have built BOINC 7.8.5 for the Mac and uploaded it to <http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dl>. This is a release for Macintosh only; there are no changes from 7.8.3 or 7.8.4 affecting the code for any other platform.

Please promote it to recommended version when appropriate.

This allows older project graphics apps to be displayed by the Mac screensaver under OS 10.13 High Sierra, though at a slower frame rate than project graphics apps which have been re-linked with the BOINC graphics libraries version 7.8.3 or later. The slower frame rate can make animations appear less smooth.

There is no change in the way the screensaver displays project graphics apps on versions of Mac OS X prior to OS 10.13, whether or not the graphics apps have been re-linked.

This newest release should be available at https://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php shortly.

Art Masson

Updates:

Charlie Fenton has temporarily removed BOINC 7.8.5 for Mac OS from the download site while he investigates a possible problem in the client when running on older Macs.

I will re-post status when Charlie determines next steps.

Also, there is a new BOINC Version for 64-bit Windows (BOINC 7.9) currently under development. It may be released for wider testing soon.

Art Masson

Thanks for keeping us up to date on the latest Art.

I noticed the other day that on Ubuntu17.10 the client updated to 7.8.4

Yes...I've been asking the BOINC team to get the primary download site updated for all platforms -- the Linux info is not being kept current. They are looking for a volunteer to do that, but that's been a "to do" for a couple months now...I'll keep asking!

Charlie Fenton has now uploaded 7.8.6 for Mac OS. Here is his latest note:


I have built BOINC 7.8.6 for the Mac and uploaded it to <http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dl>. This is a release for Macintosh only; there are no changes from 7.8.3, 7.8.4 or 7.8.5 affecting the code for any other platform. It fixes a couple of Mac-only bugs in 7.8.5:
* Reliably installs the BOINC screensaver (unless asked not to do so.)
* Fixes a bug which could prevent determining the correct size of RAM when run on versions of OS X older than OS 10.11.

This latest release is not yet on the primary BOINC download site..Charlie has requested it be posted. Meantime it is available on the link above.

Art Masson

BOINC 7.8.6 for Mac OS is now available on the primary BOINC Download Site:

https://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php

Art Masson

There is now a "pre-release" version of BOINC 7.9.0 for 64-bit Windows on the BOINC Download Site (but this release is NOT on the main site for BOINC client downloads). I have downloaded this version on one of my CPDN machines and it seems to be working OK. However, the BOINC development team is not yet recommending users download and use this version.

I don't yet have information on the content or changes in this release, but believe this indicates the release is close to being recommended for wider testing. At this point there is no Windows 32-bit version.


Windows 64-bit BOINC 7.9.0 without VBOX
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dl/boinc_7.9.0_windows_x86_64.exe

Windows 64-bit BOINC 7.9.0 with VBOX
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dl/boinc_7.9.0_windows_x86_64_vbox.exe

Art Masson

Update on BOINC Status...Next Release will be 7.10.x on all platforms. See below for a note from Richard Haselgrove who has just be designed "release manager" for BOINC. I expect this will be a big step forward in seeing progress and getting new releases for all platforms including Linux.

I mentioned to Richard that the current public BOINC download site is very out of date for Linux and also suggested that he work to get distrowatch to start including BOINC in its list of packages again.

I'll post more info as I get it.

Note from Richard follows:

The outgoing chair of BOINC's PMC (David Anderson), and the incoming chair (Kevin Reed) have jointly asked me to act as Release Manager for the next public release of BOINC. That will be version 7.10.x, and will be released for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux - Android will be a different kettle of fish entirely. I'm a Windows specialist, so I'll be relying on the good offices of Charlie Fenton, Laurence Field, and Gianfranco Costamagna to help me out. Plus all you good developers and testers out there, of course.

You've slightly bounced me into a premature announcement, but it was coming anyway - no problem with that. We've been doing some preparatory testing already, and one or two things came to light just yesterday: we're having another conference call tomorrow night, and the details should be sorted out then.

Version 7.9.1 for Windows and Mac OS is now listed as a developmental version on the main BOINC client download site. http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php

I thought the next developmental release of BOINC for Windows and Mac was going to be Version 7.10.x. But I see Version 7.9.1 now on the main BOINC download site and there are comments on the BOINC site that 7.9.2 is close to release for "official testing" and not to start testing of 7.9.1.

I'm definitely confused. I'll post clarification and a change log as soon as I can get the information.

Art Masson

Latest information from Richard Haselgrove (the BOINC Release Manager)

The BOINC version number policy is:

odd number --> testing
even number --> release (release candidate in the early stages)

We are just starting on the 'testing' phase for what will become v7.10

v7.9.1 has all the current code for testing: v7.9.2 has a correction to an included data file. Please feel free to start testing v7.9.x in accordance with the usual protocols: I'll be putting out a full-on call for testers when we get the available versions synchronised again, and Jord will be making the change list available at the same time.

BOINC 7.9.2 available for testing for Windows, Linux and Macintosh.

Change Log and Links to all applications is available here:


http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dev/forum_thread.php?id=11539

Well..that didn't last long....looks like the Mac and Linux links have been removed....will update as soon as I can get the details.....

Links for Windows, Mac, and Linux are back...no idea what happened.

Links for all platform downloads are at:
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dev/forum_thread.php?id=11539

Some additional information for Linux can be seen on the following link:

http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dev/forum_thread.php?id=8649