I am writing this message because I would like to know if there are
plans to build a version of Firebird 2.5 for Apple ARM.
I developed a couple of open source programs that use an embedded copy
of Firebird to store data catalogs. Users can open different catalogs
like any other document: they have no idea of what Firebird is.
I used version Firebird 2.0 because it was the current one when I
developed the programs and I never upgraded for years because that
version did everything I needed.
I upgraded to 2.1 when 64 bit apps were required for OS X and the
upgrade was painless because FB 2.1 can handle 2.0 files.
Now I expect that users, sooner or later, will start asking for an Apple
ARM version.
The first requirement, of course, is having a Firebird build.
AFAIK Firebird 3 cannot handle databases from previous versions, so I
cannot use it. I cannot expect casual users to backup their catalogs
first, then upgrade the program and finally restore the catalogs from
the backups. They are casual end users.
So I think that the only solution would be using version 2.5 and I am
asking just to know what to answer to users' future question.
I must also disclose that I am not sure that I will ever release an ARM
version of the programs. I do not have access to M1 Apple computers and
I do not have plans to have it. If somebody will volunteer in building
the programs I will be happy to help him, anyway. Of course this will
not be possible without Firebird.
Thank in advance.
Fulvio Senore
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