Apple Silicon-readyness

[MartinMajewski]

What's the deal with requiring Rossetta 2 to run this add-in?

I would like to ask for an Apple SIlicon compatible version if this is possible from the add-in side.

Regards,
Martin

[thomasa88]

Hi, I have not imposed any Apple hardware restrictions. The add-in is pure source code, so it should not require any specific platform. Is it the installer that claims this?

These are the platforms I can select in the app store:

In the meantime, you could also try installing the source code directly:
https://parametrictext.readthedocs.io/en/stable/installation.html#from-github-github-version

[MartinMajewski]

Hi,

Yes, you're right, and I have already installed it manually. However, the convenient way over the Add-In Store provides an installation routine that only supports Intel-Macs natively.

Please excuse me for raising this ticket if this is not under your control.

Cheers,
Martin

[thomasa88]

Hi, sorry if I came off as a bit harsh.

So the problem is in launching the installer? Or is it an error during installation? Autodesk creates the installer for me, but maybe I can get them to make it compatible.

I'm not very good at Macs. Would the question I should ask Autodesk be: "Can you make it possible to run the installer on Apple silicon?"

edit: Would this be relevant? https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-api-and-scripts-forum/can-t-install-apps-from-autodesk-app-store-onto-mac-running/m-p/13347869
It does sound like another problem, though.

[MartinMajewski]

No worries. I guess I have also been a bit under stress lately. You created a great add-in there. It's unfortunate that I found it so late, and Fusion has released its own take on parametric text with the last update.

Anyhow, here is what I meant by my initial question:

Apple released its own CPU architecture a few years ago. To make old software created for the former Intel-based Mac still compatible with Apple Silicon (that's the overall term for the Apple M-Series Chips), you need to install a translation layer called Rosetta 2. The installer is an Intel-compiled piece of software that cannot run natively on an M-based Apple chips and asks for Rosetta 2.

This is very inconvenient and raises the question of whether the add-in itself will run via the translation layer, as this is known to be less performant than native code.

Autodesk needs to provide a newer installer package, I guess.

Cheers,
Martin

[thomasa88]

Thanks for the clarification. I'll ask if they can provide installers compatible with Apple Silicon.

It'll be interesting to see how far they take their parametric text. It will probably support configurations much better. I hope they'll add version numbering.

[thomasa88]

Hi, I understand that you don't need the add-in anymore, but may I ask what version of Apple Silicon that you are using? (M1, M2, M3) I got this question from the app store support.

Thanks.

[MartinMajewski]

Hi, sure thing. I'm currently on an M4 Max inside a Mac Studio and on an M4 Max inside a MacBook Pro.

It's wild that they ask such a thing, as all four generations are compatible with each other. But, who knows... statistics... perhaps.

Cheers.

[MartinMajewski]

btw.: I have now revisited my feedback on the Autodesk Add-In site and adjusted the rating accordingly (5 Stars). It will be up as soon as it is approved (by you or Autodesk?).