Does the new M1 chip mean we're going to have to deploy 2 seperate versions of each app we utilize?

[PEBKAC]

What is the best way forward, considering we already have a huge environment of intel macs? At some day soon we will be forced to add M1 macs in here for new hires. I guess we could pre-install rosetta on those machines, but wouldn't that mean reduced performance on those apps? Are we going to have to deploy 2 separate versions of every app we use? (one intel compatible and one m1 compatible?) This seems like a deloyment nightmare. If this is the case, what is the best way to handle it on Jamf?

[nider]

In short this is up to the developer of the app. Apple have what's called a Universal Binary, which can contain the executable code for both Intel and arm64 architectures. Some apps at the time of writing this are already shipping as Universal Binaries such as the latest version of the Microsoft Office suite, other apps the developers have shipped two separate versions of the app a current example being Slack.

If you have an app where the developer is releasing two separate versions, bug them for their universal binary release plans. In the interim, the easiest way is probably to continue to deploy the Intel version and rely on Rosetta.