Apple isn't scattering anything by running processors that run the same architecture as android and ios on phones. Most open source software can already be compiled for x86, arm, sparc, etc.

The stuck-in-the-'90s "desktop is all there is" mindset is a weird holdover from the early growth of PCs in developed countries. If you look at emerging markets, mobile is completely dominant.

ARM has also been historically used most often on proprietary systems you need authorization to develop for. So it's made less sense as a target for open source tooling hack projects like this one.

ARM also has so many sub-targets that it's almost like a coalition of ISAs rather than a unified one like x86. So adding ARM support to Actually Portable Executable might not be as simple as including an ARM build in the binary. We might need to have multiple ARM builds for its microarchitectures. Because ARM users want resource efficiency and they're not going to be happy with a generalized build that broadly targets ARM; they want code that's narrowly targeted to the specific revisions of the processor that they're using.

In other words, we can't give ARM users portable binaries because ARM users do not want them.

I also always thought that code for other architectures was the kind of thing that mostly got contributed by the people who build those architectures. Things like how IBM always graces our GitHub issues with patches each time our code doesn't work on s390x mainframes. I like that they do it by contributing patches rather than the feedback of why don't you support this? Why don't you support that? Oh I didn't say I actually needed it.

Nitpick: it is by definition not needed to have different build for different microarchitectures (except maybe for performance). If the same code doesn't work on different chips, it's because they have different ('versions of') instruction set architectures.

Edit: nevermind, on rereading, you were already complaining about that. You should probably stick scare-quotes on "'need'", though.

Apple already does this for x86: macOS contains duplicates of all operating system binaries & libraries compiled for pre- vs. post-Haswell processors.

(Rule 5: if you haven't played SC2, Banelings were a super in-character addition to the zerg unit tree. Zerglings are able to morph into a variant called the "baneling" that's a fairly powerful suicide bomb. Rather like the "scourge" air units in SC1, except a ground-only attack. Fairly good at rushing bunkers, but die pretty fast to siege tanks.

Really loved the design though - fit the zerg ethos really well.)