Overview
There are two basic types of general binary code. One type is to simply provide two independent binary code, one for the X86 architecture, one for the PowerPC architecture. But for ordinary software users who are unfamiliar with code, they may not be able to distinguish between them when they purchase and use. Another type is to write only one architecture code, and the system automatically calls the simulator when another processing environment. This will result in a decline in operation, usually a compromise which is temporarily used as "universal binary" or "special connection binary". (See Rosetta.)
Principle
Because universal binary applications need to be stored in a single platform binary program, it is not commonplace due to the two architectures. Execute resources, there is no more than twice the single version. And since the execution is only called only a part of the code, it does not require additional memory.
When the Apple computer company uses a similar technique when converting from 68K processor to PowerPC in the mid-1990s. At that time, these dual platform executives were called "Fat Binaries" because their file capacity is larger than the original.
As of October 2006, Apple's Xcode is the only GUI tool that can compile universal binary code. A simple application developed using Processor-Independence can only need to change very little part of the universal binary. However, for complex programs that are based on a structural specialty, modifying the code is a more complex project. Applications made using other development tools require additional modifications. Because of these reasons, the current intelmeal McKin Tower computers and the general binary software produced by third parties cannot be synchronized. And Apple's conversion in hardware is a few months in advance than the scheduled plan, and it is also another factor in this gap.
case
Apple's XCode 2.4 version will further promote the concept of universal binary, support the creation of four-way binary (corresponding to 32-bit and 64-bit platforms in Intel and PowerPC), so you can Let an execut program run on all Mac OS X machines.
General Application
Since the 2005 WWDC Conference, many software developers have provided universal binary code for their products. By August 2006, Apple's official website claimed that there were more than 3,000 common applications.
Nonworceinso, some high-end common applications have no universal binary versions, such as Microsoft Office 2004, etc. These products are currently running on the Intel Macintatt computer using the Rosetta compiler. As a result, the current Adobe Photoshop version is running on the Intel Macintota computer, which is more slow than in the PowerPC processor's McKin Tower, even more slow than in the window system. Adobe has declared that universal binary versions of existing products are not released, but transfers general binary in new versions of future release.