From 5595cab508b2f06edc3fc21bcf3cd75b3193423b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jim Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2015 04:21:36 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] machine identification --- ...ramming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn | 35 ++++++++++++++++------ 1 file changed, 26 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-) diff --git a/how_to_get_the_programming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn b/how_to_get_the_programming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn index b4a49626..f9fa2d43 100644 --- a/how_to_get_the_programming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn +++ b/how_to_get_the_programming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ We'll assume you're using either Mac OS X, or Windows, or Linux. If you're using **Mac OS X**, take note of what version of the Mac OS you're -running: +running. (Under the Apple Menu, select "About this Mac".) * Leopard (10.5) * Snow Leopard (10.6) @@ -12,29 +12,39 @@ running: * Mavericks (10.9) * Yosemite (10.10) +If you're running **iOS**, you probably can't use this software on that machine. (A bit more below.) + Furthermore, you'll be in one of two subgroups: * You'll have Apple's Xcode and the independent MacPorts system installed. (Probably you don't. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you don't have these.) + If you don't have these, but want to try this route, you can read about + the MacPorts system at . + This automates the building of Unix-type software on your Mac; it + makes it a lot easier to check for dependencies, use more-recent + versions of things, and so on. (Though as it happens, MacPorts only has an older version of + our chosen implementation of Scheme.) + Xcode is available at - . Some versions of this have been available for free, though you do have to register with Apple as an "Apple Developer", which involves accepting a legal agreement with Apple. I have an older version of this installed. If you download a recent version, email me and let me know how the process works so I can tell others. There are instructions about how to get Xcode in the MacPorts installation guide (see below). + . Some + versions of this have been available for free, though you do have to + register with Apple as an "Apple Developer", which involves accepting a + legal agreement with Apple. I have an older version of this installed. + If you download a recent version, email me and let me know how the + process works so I can tell others. There are instructions about how to + get Xcode in the MacPorts installation guide. - The MacPorts system is available at - . - This automates the building of Unix-type software on your Mac; it - makes it a lot easier to check for dependencies, use more-recent - versions of things, and so on. -* Or you won't have those installed. (Most Mac users will be in this group.) +* Or you won't have those installed. (**Most Mac users will be in this group.**) Then you'll need pre-packaged (and usually pretty GUI) installers for everything. These are great when they're available and kept up-to-date; - however those conditions aren't always met. + however sometimes those conditions aren't met. If you're using **Windows**, you'll be in one of two subgroups: @@ -63,6 +73,13 @@ systems. i686 or i386 or whatever) version of Linux, and that I'm running kernel version 3.12.8. +**For all of these groups**, a general item to take note of is what "processor architecture" your machine is running. Three of the possibilities are: + +* One of Intel's i386, i486, i586, i686 architectures. These are collectively known as "x86" or "IA-32" or sometimes just "32-bit". +* Intel or AMD's x86\_64 architecture. This is sometimes also called "x64" or "amd64" or "IA-64" or sometimes just "64-bit". +* ARM or some other architecture. These are generally lower-powered machines, like iPads. Some of the software we're proposing *might* in principle be capable of running on such machines, but installers don't seem to be available. We'll assume you have access to an x86 or x86\_64 machine. + +In the Linux example above, I could tell my machine is running x86 because the result of the `uname` command said "i386" at the end. Another machine I have says "x86\_64" at the end. On a Mac, you can also say `uname -m` in a Terminal session, and it will say something like "i386". I think that Mac OS's from Lion / 10.7 forward have all been x86\_64-only. On Windows, I don't know how to collect this information. But generally, machines running Windows XP will probably be i386/32-bit (unless it's a version of Windows with "64-bit" or "x64" in its title); machines running Windows Vista or Windows 7 or Windows 8 could be running either x86/32-bit or x64/64-bit. ## PLEASE REPORT PROBLEMS (AND SOLUTIONS!) ## -- 2.11.0