Feature request – Download for Apple Silicon / aarch64

[obitwrite]

Hydrogen version * : 1.2.3
Operating system + version : macOS Sonoma / Sequoia
Audio driver + version : Not relevant

---

Dear all, I've looked everywhere, on the website and on this Github, but couldn't find if someone already asked this – or if this has been answered. With more and more Macs moving away from Intel-processors, would it be possible to provide an Apple Silicon/aarch64 download of Hydrogen?

[cme]

It's not currently possible with the CI/CD system we use to produce the release images (Appveyor) because it uses Homebrew to supply libraries and Homebrew doesn't support universal binaries at the moment.

[cme]

Although, I could easily contribute AArch64 macOS builds.... hmm.

[obitwrite]

I see, thanks for the quick reply. Reading your second comment: so, a aarch64 macOS build that is separate from Homebrew is possible? If so, that would be great!

[cme]

I see, thanks for the quick reply. Reading your second comment: so, a aarch64 macOS build that is separate from Homebrew is possible? If so, that would be great!

Not separate from Homebrew, just using native AArch64 Homebrew on an Apple Silicon build host

[obitwrite]

Ah, I understand! Would be great if a aarch64 macOS build is possible this way!

[theGreatWhiteShark]

Homebrew doesn't support universal binaries at the moment

Does this mean it would be in general possible to compile a macOS binary which could run on both x86_64 and AArch64?

[obitwrite]

I guess a universal binary would be the ideal situation @theGreatWhiteShark – would this be possible @cme ?

[cme]

Homebrew doesn't support universal binaries at the moment

Does this mean it would be in general possible to compile a macOS binary which could run on both x86_64 and AArch64?

Yep. It's not supported by Homebrew though as it builds only native binaries, we'd have to compile all dependencies from it, including Qt

[theGreatWhiteShark]

we'd have to compile all dependencies from it, including Qt

Hmm. That's a lot. Maybe we can convince Homebrew to use the precomiled version of Qt provided by AppVeyor. Or maybe MacPorts would do a better job.

[obitwrite]

Thanks for all the replies! So, there's 3 options, if I can sum up your comments @theGreatWhiteShark @cme. Correct me if I'm wrong.

1. Homebrew on a native Apple Silicon build host. This requires that all depedencies are built from it, because they need to also be aarch64?
2. Homebrew with precompiled version of qt provided by AppVeyor. But is this version of qt aarch64 / Apple Silicon compatible or x86? Or doesn't that matter?
3. Macports. Any downsides?

[cme]

I've just spent a frustrating hour or so trying to build working AArch64 macos binaries for 1.2.4. It seems that the combination of Qt, Howebrew and Sonoma somehow causes macdeplopqt to build broken apps. I haven't built a dmg in a long time, certainly not since upgrading to Sonoma, and it previously Just Worked but now is broken. Grr. I shall check if an Appveyor Sonoma image can build working dmgs for x86_64 tomorrow, as well as dig into macdeployqt.

As for universal binaries, I think it needs a move to Qt6. @theGreatWhiteShark do you think it's viable (in future) to support building with Qt5 for legacy targets and Qt6 for up-to-date systems?