Request for aarch64/arm64 versions of upload tools

[JakeSmarter]

Since we no longer can ignore the ever increasing market share of ARM64 processors in the desktop domain, I would like to request releases of the desktop and CLI upload tools for this processor architecture. While recent Apple machines may come to mind first here, this request does not only affect Apple machines but all sorts of computer hard and software vendors, including but not limited to Windows and Linux machines. Apparently, more and more users and consumers see economical advantages for their desktop needs to transition to ARM64 machines. Note, I am not advocating for or against any processor architecture. I am just stating a mere fact that ARM64’s market share in the desktop domain has become relevant enough in recent years. So, for the sake of simplicity and lowering barriers for contributors please consider providing ARM64 versions. Thank you.

ps. I am still convinced this need could have been avoided with a simple drop off web uploader. On the other hand, every Android app that ships with native code today and wants to gain respectable market penetration has to support at least three processor architectures. 🤷‍♂️ Maybe this is how people want things to be today…

[tsmock]

I'm pretty certain that mapillary_tools is architecture agnostic. I've run it on a Raspberry Pi in the past.

[bob3bob3]

A just in case remark (mentioned on the tools forum)

Mapillary tools uses ffmpeg to unpack movies to frames. I have found that the deb.multimedia version (that is probably a fairly late version) fails with BlackVue videos. It seems the standard Debian Bookworm or a deb.multimedia prior version is okay. I simply reverted and froze ffmpeg at that version as the PC is most used for Mapillary work.

[JakeSmarter]

I'm pretty certain that mapillary_tools is architecture agnostic.

It is but only so far as there is a native Python interpreter available for any particular architecture. None of the current AppImage or Windows releases target ARM. In other words, no release deploys with an ARM native Python interpreter.

[ptpt]

Added in #711. Next release will include Linux ARM and macOS ARM.

[JakeSmarter]

Thank you for making the effort!

I am not sure how reasonable it may be to pursue ARMv7 releases? Since the Windows releases include x86, I am assuming that Python continues to support 32 bit architectures, and thus does not block ARMv7 releases particularly either. Windows remains the only OS without an ARM release. Otherwise, I think we could consider this issue to be closed.

[ptpt]

Thanks. Open a new issue if the ARM arch for Windows is needed ;)