From: Rob Biedenharn <Rob@...>
Date: 2010-01-15T09:35:30+09:00
Subject: Re: How to know the OS architecture (32 or 64 bits)?


On Jan 14, 2010, at 6:12 PM, Iņaki Baz Castillo wrote:

> Hi, is there a reliable way under Ruby to know the OS architecture  
> (32 or 64
> bits)?
>
> I've just found RUBY_PLATFORM constant which returns "x86_64-linux"  
> under 64
> bits, however it doesn't send very reliable for me.
>
> I need a way working under Linux and BSD. Thanks for any suggestion.
>
> -- 
> Iņaki Baz Castillo <ibc@aliax.net>
>


You can use Fixnum#size to get number of bytes for a Fixnum and  
multiply by 8 bits/byte:

irb(main):001:0> 1.size * 8
=> 64
irb(main):002:0> RUBY_PLATFORM
=> "x86_64-linux"

irb> 1.size * 8
=> 32
irb> RUBY_PLATFORM
=> "universal-darwin9.0"

I think it's reliable. (Although I guess there could be a 32-bit ruby  
running on a 64-bit platform.)

-Rob

Rob Biedenharn		http://agileconsultingllc.com
Rob@AgileConsultingLLC.com