Several distributions are abandoning or phasing out the 32-bit platform, focusing solely on the 64-bit platform and offering only one installation image. This list of distributions is growing, and just yesterday Ubuntu and its developers confirmed that it is joining this list; that is, Ubuntu will be abandoning the 32-bit platform.
This change will be reflected in the next stable version of the distribution, that is, Ubuntu 17.10, a version that will be released on October 19.
Ubuntu will no longer provide live images or installation images for the 32-bit platform. However, packages for the 32-bit platform will continue to be maintained for older installations. Future Ubuntu releases will also no longer have a 32-bit version.
Users of official flavors will be able to use the 32-bit version . Official flavors will have to decide whether to continue with the 32-bit version or discontinue its development. Therefore, many users of official flavors will not be affected by this decision from Canonical and the Ubuntu team.
The truth is that this decision responds to a situation that is increasingly common among users' computers. The number of computers that support or use the 64-bit platform is very large, making it pointless for many to develop versions for 32-bit computers, since even computers from 10 years ago support the 64-bit platform.
Personally, I think Ubuntu's decision is the right one, since older 32-bit systems don't usually run well with the main Ubuntu version. However, with official flavors like Lubuntu, Xubuntu, or Ubuntu MATE , 32-bit systems do run well, and these will likely be the flavors that maintain the 32-bit version . But this is just my opinion, and I'm sure many users will disagree with this decision. What do you think? Do you believe Ubuntu's decision is the right one?