Apple software vs Windows software on Linux...

r_jensen11 · 09-25-2003, 03:57 PM

First, is it possible to install Apple software on Linux? If so, since Apple's OSX is based off of Linux(correct?), would it run any more smoothly than Windows software? I'm just thinking, perhaps for things like WarCraft 3 or maybe even Photoshop, the programs would run more nativly than Windows software...

GAVollink · 09-25-2003, 04:01 PM

OSX is loosely based on FreeBSD/NetBSD. Not the same, no. Windows software support is only available through WINE, which AFAIK is still flaky. Want to run Apple Apps - buy an Apple.

r_jensen11 · 09-25-2003, 04:07 PM

I thought that OSX was based off of the Linux 2.4 kernel, so I thought that an emulator wouldn't have to be as demanding as Wine or WineX. Sorry, I just thought that maybe I would get better performance if I did something like installed a Mac version of WC3 or Photoshop....*I know about Gimp, but Photoshop does have some advantages...*

GAVollink · 09-25-2003, 04:08 PM

Agreed, especially with the powertools.

Thymox · 09-25-2003, 05:38 PM

If you intended on running Apple software under Linux running on x86 hardware then you will need a full hardware emulator, There is Basilisk2, but as far as I know it only emulates m68k Apples, not the PPC variety.

There is a great tool called MacOnLinux that allows you to run Mac apps under Linux on PPC hardware - but if you're doing that, you could just keep MacOS on the machine anyway and dual-boot. I don't know, and I sincerely doubt that there are any tools like MOL that allow you to run Mac apps on x86 Linux except true full emulators.

Also, there is something called Darwin. Now, Darwin is the kernel of OSX - but there is an x86 port (several actually - OpenDarwin, GNUDarwin, etc). I know that on OpenDarwin there is quite a heafty chunk of code directly contributed from Apple, but I doubt that you could run native Apple OSX apps on it - perhaps a few. And you would need to get hold of Aqua in order to get that full OSX feel.

r_jensen11 · 09-25-2003, 06:32 PM

Perhaps once Apple starts up their production of OS's for x86 computers again(forgot where I read it, but I'm pretty sure they said Apple was going to start making OS's for non-Apple computers...) we can get some software that'll be easy to port...