new apple ARM architecture fretting

[beckermr]

This issue is for us to publicly fret (and also collect info) on the new ARM-based OSX macs dropping later this year.

Some collected links:

• https://twitter.com/mycoliza/status/1275305517066227712
• https://www.wired.com/story/apple-will-put-its-own-chips-into-macs/

TL;DR

• there will be an emulator at first so we won't be caught completely off guard
• the situation around shared libs looks interesting, to say the least. If they really are cached in memory this might break
  many builds.
• we do not know if we can build our own compilers or if we will have to use the system ones.

cc @jjhelmus @jakirkham @isuruf

[jjhelmus]

Apple has a "Developer Transition Kit (DTK)" which is a ARM based machine that can be used for developing and testing, more details at https://developer.apple.com/programs/universal/. You have to apply, pay $500, meet eligibility requirements and be selected to receive on of these kits.

[beckermr]

I’d be happy to host the machine at my house if we wanted to try this.

[jakirkham]

Yeah they mentioned something about getting a Mac Mini for development. Guessing that's what you are referring to. Agree that's a good idea. I wonder if they would give it to us for free if we asked nicely 😁

[beckermr]

Would nvidia or anaconda be willing to host it for us?

[jjhelmus]

The DTK is a mac mini with a Apple A12Z Bionic (8 cores, 4 big, 4 little, ARMv8.3-A) with 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD. It needs to be returned to Apple. I'm discussing with folks at Anaconda about applying for one. I'll inquire about getting conda-forge access or hosting a separate machine as well.

[beckermr]

Bump here @isuruf

[beckermr]

We good to close this @isuruf?

[isuruf]

Sure

[isuruf]

Closing in favour of #1126