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Dante Ashton
Asked: 2010-10-12 16:51:13 +0800 CST

Can I run OSX applications?

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Just wondering, are there any projects like WINE, but for Mac software? That is, can we use a program that acts like a compatibility layer to run Mac apps?

macosx crossplatform

9 Answers

  1. Recently featured on Slashdot was the Darling project, which aims to provide Darwin / OS X emulation and can already run some Mac OS X applications on Linux.

    It appears to be developed for academic purposes and is still in its early stages, but it looks promising. It is based on the aforementioned GNUstep.

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  2. Sadly not.

    There are various projects that attempt PowerPC emulation, but none that would allow you run your standard Mac OS X application.

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  3. GNUstep as an equalivelent API to Cocoa, the NeXTstep based Mac API, but it's not complete, needs recompilation, and then your Mac app looks like it went back in time.

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  4. There was a project attempting to do this for very old Mac Software (68k) called Executor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executor_%28software%29 -- it is, of course, defunct.

    There is no modern equivalent as far as I can tell, and making such a thing would be almost as big a task as Wine itself.

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  5. EDIT: Reading the other answers, it appears that there are now ways to do what OP asked. I'm leaving this answer here because it is still a viable alternative on some hardware for applications which won't run under emulation.

    While the other answers are correct (no, you cannot), there is a way to install OSX on Virtualisation software such as VirtualBox. This is not what you asked for, so be careful, but it may get you the results you need.

    http://www.taranfx.com/install-snow-leopard-virtualbox

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  6. No.

    There is no way(without emulating/virtualizing Mac OSX itself) to run mac programs, sadly. Unlike Windows, whose libraries have been legally replicated for WINE, there is no such replication for Cocoa, except Gnustep, which is very incomplete.

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  7. No.

    You cannot run Mac applications on an Ubuntu machine. Even if it were possible, it would be very hard to satisfy the requirements of most applications.

    Most Mac applications use features like /Library/Application Support, something Ubuntu doesn't have (to my knowledge). Some apps even modify system files or add new ones (The former could break your system if they happen to be in the same location).

    However...

    If you really want to run Mac apps, your best bet is to either virtualize macOS or boot it natively. The latter would (most likely) be the hardest; it's called hackintoshing and it's a very popular method (but breaks the Apple EULA).

    If you can find a distro of macOS that would work on your hardware, it's not a bad idea to give it a try if you really want native support. However, it could be a tough job. I won't go into much detail, but most of what you'd normally want to know can be found with a quick Google search.

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  8. Hmm , you cant run OSX apps in Ubuntu. Although both OS are based on Unix , but Mac OS X apps are designed to run on its Mac OS X platform and coding , while Ubuntu is based on Debian , there are relatively no common factors.

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  9. Your best bet now is running Mac OS X in virtualbox and using seamless mode. I have tried seamless mode with Winxp and it works great. I haven't really tried this with Mac OS X but I guess it's never too late!

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