64 vs 32 bit

[joshky]

If I upgrade from windows 32 bit to 64 bit will it change the portability of programs that I compile on my machine? What other issues will this cause from a programming standpoint?

[zb0S216C]

upgrade from windows 32 bit

Which Windows operating system are you referring to?

64 bit

Which 64-bit Windows are you referring to?

If you're running Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you can use Compatibility Mode. But if you're moving from 32-bit to 64-bit then your applications should still work.

[joshky]

I am upgrading form windows 7 32 bit to windows 7 64 bit home premium. I'm not so much worrier about running visual studio I am just wondering if this will affect programs I compile? For example if I compile a program that I write will it still work on a 32 bit machine?

[simeonz]

Ok, I have never tried developing from win64 platform, but I want to clarify smth.

The target does not have to be the same as your current platform. Probably the toolchain for 64-bit will choose the 64-bit platform as the default target, but generally speaking, any decent compiler should be able to cross-compile. The problem is that you have to test your program. If the OS is backward compatible (like the Windows-es), it will run "old" apps in some emulation layer (WOW64 in this case). There may be differences between the emulation and the native execution. You are going to perform tests in the wrong environment. Then again, if you had 32-bit OS, you would only test how the program behaves in native 32-bit environment. You wouldn't know if it misbehaves in the emulation layer of the 64-bit OS.

My idea was to emphasize that no development is portable/cross-platform unless you perform tests on several platforms. Otherwise, you are always "guessing" what may work and what not.

However, do not upgrade until someone with experience gives you thumbs up. This is not me.

Regards