Technology news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Mac lookalikes multiply as Linux raids Apple’s wardrobe
Several Linux projects are adopting macOS-inspired designs, reflecting renewed interest in combining familiar Apple-style polish with open-source systems. The projects may appeal to users who want a Mac-like interface, particularly as Apple’s support for older Intel Macs approaches its limit.
New projects include Argentina’s Lord OS, built on Debian, and ClokeOS, which uses the Xfce desktop with Apple’s open-source XNU kernel. Revived Cutefish has released version 1.0 for x86-64 and Arm64 and is developing a Mac-app compatibility layer; Ukrainian Desert OS is at version 5.5. The article’s brief test of Lord OS found it visually impressive but noted missing keyboard functions and duplicated menu options, suggesting some projects still need refinement.
In short
- Mac-inspired Linux desktops are attracting new and revived projects.
- Several support both x86-64 and Arm64 hardware.
- A quick test found Lord OS still had usability gaps.
Explained simply
Linux is an open-source operating system, and its desktop can be changed by different projects. Some developers give Linux a layout and visual style that may feel familiar to people who have used macOS, Apple’s operating system for Mac computers.
These projects vary in how they are built and how complete they are. Lord OS is based on Debian Linux, while ClokeOS uses the Xfce desktop and Apple’s open-source XNU kernel; other projects include Cutefish and Ukraine’s Desert OS.
A Mac-like appearance does not make a system macOS or guarantee that Mac apps and hardware features will work. Such projects may interest people looking for a different operating system for older Intel Macs, as Apple’s support for those machines is nearing its end.