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Limit MolSysSuite macOS support to Apple Silicon (arm64) #59
Description
What — Retire macOS Intel (osx-64, x86_64) from the supported-platform matrix of MolSysSuite members. Keep macOS Apple Silicon (arm64) as the only eligible macOS architecture, subject to each member's own installed-package and runtime evidence. Begin with MolSysMT and MolSysViewer in this change; inventory and roll out the same rule to every other registered member.
Required public wording — "macOS support is currently limited to Apple Silicon (arm64). Intel-based macOS (x86_64) is not part of the supported platform matrix. Support may be reconsidered if there is demonstrated user demand."
How — Update the suite CI/distribution support policy, machine-readable member support inventory or an architecture-aware extension, starter-kit guidance, and component-facing template. For each member, remove Intel-only required runners, osx-64 release builds and release gates, and stale current-support promises; add or link the wording on README/install/support surfaces. Do not imply that an incubating member with no macOS ARM evidence already supports it. Preserve previously published osx-64 artifacts and dated release evidence rather than deleting or rewriting history. Track implementation status and exceptions centrally. Cross-link the separate MOLI direct-component policy issue uibcdf/moli#31.
Why — Early user demand for Intel macOS is expected to be small, while five-platform native builds and matrices consume substantial development time. The current canonical PySide6/Qt 6.11.2 Conda route lacks osx-64 Qt WebEngine, but this decision applies across the suite, not just Viewer. It is a deliberate support/resource decision; older Intel Macs may still receive OS security updates. A future user issue can trigger reconsideration.
Acceptance — MolSysMT and MolSysViewer active workflows, validators, release plans and public messages agree on the four-platform set without osx-64; the remaining member inventory assigns an owner and migration status to each applicable component; the shared wording is present or linked wherever macOS support is claimed; no member claims arm64 solely from noarch packaging or a solver result; and the policy documents a concrete reconsideration path. Keep #57 open for the independent observation of replacing the UIBCDF Qt forks; retiring osx-64 does not authorize deleting those repositories.
Activity
LMMV commentedon Oct 1, 2026
Delivered prospective macOS Intel retirement under the maintainer decision. The only eligible macOS architecture is Apple Silicon (arm64); concrete user demand can reopen the decision.
Machine-readable authority and regression guard:
policies.python-ci.macos-architectures = ["arm64"], checked bypython_ci_status.pyandtests/test_python_ci_policy.py. All 257 central administrative tests passed. The canonical guide was synchronized and pushed to all 15 members; all registered guides match. Current ArgDigest, PyUnitWizard and GH Run Receptor support pages now explicitly qualify macOS as Apple Silicon.Immutable source inventory and local owners. Archived decision. Active inspected workflows have no enabled Intel runner or osx-64 publication target. MolSysMT/Viewer already use the prospective four-platform candidate gate. Historical Intel files, benchmark fixtures and dated 20-cell evidence remain unchanged.
No new scientific matrix, arm64 runtime certificate, package release or Qt-host capability is claimed. Local CI review issues retain complete platform evidence; uibcdf/molsysviewer#97 retains standalone Qt-host limits and #57 retains independent Qt-fork observation.