During production of Finding Nemo, we started using Linux boxes in addition to SGIs.
Why?
3D painting software we wrote for laying out coral was written in C++ using templates, and the debug info was too large for IRIX, but was debuggable on Linux.
Was this a 32 bit vs. 64 bit issue?
No.
IRIX reserved half the address space for the kernel, while Linux only did a quarter.
So on Linux, we had 3GB, and the symbols fit.
It was a 32 bit show, both machines had 4GB max.
Plenty for Finding Nemo.
How do I know this?
I was the project lead, although the best parts of it were written by my smarter collaborator Michael O’Brien (eventually SVP of R&D at Technicolor).
This story is *not* the 32 to 64 bit transition.
This is just us trying to get another GB of address space, where we leveraged the ongoing Linux port work w/alot of our own.
Now that I think about it, all the impactful work I’ve done in my career happened in 32 bits of address space.
4GB always seemed like a lot to me.
@Drwave I don't know if it's a certain vintage of worker or shared sensibilities, but this reminds me of a recent piece from my buddy Simo:
https://simo.virokannas.fi/2025/11/memories/
Also, these stories never get old. Keep 'em coming.
Michael B. Johnson
Isaac T.
Cliff'sEsportCorner