Poll: What do you think about x64 and x86 combi installers?

[stax76]

What do you think about installers and portable downloads that include both x64 and x86 combined?

I have to say that I don't like this and it's almost never what I want. What about you?

What could be reasons that some authors decide for separate and others for combi? Laziness, incompetence, ignorance or naivety maybe?

I know I've been guilty of not making always the best choices in the past and hope this thread will help me to understand the problems and make better choices in the future.

There is one non-public choice.

[StainlessS]

My only real problem is SubTitleEdit, installs x64 version on x64 system,
not a good choice when wanting to use with Avisynth, nearly always just want x86 install, just to view subs.
x64 does not always support all dll's and so just dont work proper, unless basic source filter only.
Even if no avs filters, and result is YV12, SubTitleEdit video display box sometimes works, sometimes dont, no apparent reason for when it dont work.
I dont like auto select x64 install, with no other recourse.

EDIT: I voted, "It depends".

[FranceBB]

I voted for "Combi is bad" 'cause people don't necessarily want an x64 build on an x64 OS and there are many different reasons.
On the other hand, I would very much like an installer like the Avisynth+ one, which is a single installer for both x86 and x64, BUT it lets you decide which one you wanna install: x86 or x64 or both.
This way, people running 32bit OS will only be able to install the x86 version, but people running an x64 OS (the majority nowadays) will be able to choose which version they wanna install (or install both of them).

[nevcairiel]

The reason to offer a two-in-one installer is that most normal users just have no clue whats best for them, so you take away one source of errors.
It greatly depends on what you are trying to install. A normal GUI application, there is little reason to use 32-bit on a 64-bit system. A plugin for some framework? Probably install both 32 and 64, if that framework commonly supports both.

For my LAV Filters, for example, DirectShow players exist in 32-bit and 64-bit equally. I don't expect a user to know what their player is, so I make one installer that installs both on a 64-bit system, so that its guaranteed to work in whatever player they have.
Of course the installer lets you turn off either, if you are an advanced user and know what you are doing.

[Sparktank]

It depends~

I like it when they offer a basic or advanced mode when installing. Gives more control of what you're doing of what you (think you) know.
It's nice to see options. For most things, I try go for x64, unless I have specific needs, as those mentioned previously.

[hubblec4]

option for portable is missing. When installer then with both with a choice to select x86 or/and x64 like LAV installer.

[stax76]

option for portable is missing. When installer then with both with a choice to select x86 or/and x64 like LAV installer.

There was a thread setup vs portable and the outcome was that portable is very popular.

Here are the mpv.net download stats of the last release:

portable x64 7z
download count: 692

portable x64 zip
download count: 374

portable x86 7z
download count: 74

portable x86 zip
download count: 138


setup x64 exe
download count: 1365

setup x86 exe
download count: 514