AIRYX project develops FreeBSD edition compatible with MacOS applications

is available The first beta release of the operating system AiryX , offering an environment in the MacOS style and aimed at providing a certain level of compatibility with MacOS applications. AIRYX is based on FreeBSD and a graphical stack based on the X server is used. Project operations distributed under the BSD license. The size of the loading ISO image – 1.9 GB (x86_64).

as a target The project is stated to achieve compatibility with MacOS applications at the source code level (the ability to recompile the code of open MacOS applications to execute in AIRYX) and executable files (in the kernel and toolkit, patches are added to run the executable Mach-O files collected for the X86-64 architecture). In the interface implementation used for MacOS concepts, such as the top panel with the global menu, identical menu structure, keyboard combinations, similar to style file manager Filer and support for commands such as Launchctl and Open. The graphic environment is based on the KDE Plasma shell, stylized under MacOS.

Supported in MacOS file systems HFS + and APFS, as well as specific system directories. For example, besides those characteristic of the FreeBSD hierarchy / usr and / usr / local, the / library, / system and / volumes are used in Airyx. Home user directories are placed in the / Users directory. Each home directory has a ~ / library subdirectory for applications using Apple Cocoa software interface.

applications may be treated in the form of self-sufficient App-packets ( App Bundle ) in Appimage format placed in catalogs / Applications or ~ / Applications. The programs do not require the installation and use of the batch manager – it is enough to drag the mouse and run the appimage file. At the same time, support and traditional packages and ports are saved.

MacOS compatibility provides partial implementation of the Cocoa and Objective-C Runtime software interface (posted in the / System / Library / Frameworks directory), as well as additionally modified compilers and linkers to support them. It is planned to implement the support of XCode project files and programs in SWIFT. In addition to a layer for compatibility with MacOS in
Airyx is also available for launching applications for Linux based on the Linux environment emulation infrastructure proposed in FreeBSD ( Linuxulator ).

Features of the first beta version of Airyx:

  • Availability of self-sufficient packages with Firefox, Terminal and Kate.
  • New Appkit-based Objective Installer (Airyxos.App).
  • inclusion in Java SDK 17.0.1 + 12.
  • Use as the basis of the kernel and systemic surroundings FreeBSD 12.3rc.
  • Superior Appkit, C is closest to MacOS color scheme and keyboard combinations, support for pop-up menu, improved operation with fonts.

/Media reports.