Highlights some potential issues with third-party products running under Big Sur, and on Apple Silicon Macs, from the sealed system volume to mixed architecture tool chains.
Intel
Look forward to Universal Apps, which will show how well Apple Silicon Macs perform. There’s a lot of history buried in them too.
Can you strip all Intel executables from a Universal App to make it even smaller? What benefits might there be in building an app for Big Sur only?
Will stripping executable code for an unwanted platform stop an app from working? What savings are to be gained?
Apple gave us a big clue in the command tool lipo, which underwent complete overhaul in Mojave – a clear signpost of where it is heading.
How testing Mach-O files to see if they’re Universal Binaries gets complicated – and probably isn’t as reliable before macOS 10.14.
New version for Mojave and later improves accuracy of detection of Universal binaries which can run on Apple Silicon.
How can you tell whether an app on your Mac is a Universal App, or only support Intel processors?
Apple warns that “Rosetta translation applies to an entire process, including all code modules that the process loads dynamically” – here are some implications.
A new tool to report the architecture including 64-bit compatibility of any app, code bundle, or command tool. Free of course.
The Eclectic Light Company 