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I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

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Re: I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

#71
post #40

For the same reasons, I prefer Linux - but also like Apple Silicon platform. As a result, I use Fedora Asahi Remix natively on the hardware. It's a few generations behind in support (M1- and M2-based systems right now), but I can't tell you how good it feels to be able to use Linux natively on Apple Silicon hardware. In my workflow, Fedora Asahi Remix runs at least twice as fast as macOS on the same hardware for any…

Why not just run an OS in a VM and full screen it?

Because it's very cumbersome. Managing with multiple audio devices and displays must be done in the host OS. Keyboard shortcuts might not work correctly. Gestures might not work correctly. Suspending and resuming is a pain, basically need to login twice. It's a lot of friction.

Re: I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

#72

For the same reasons, I prefer Linux - but also like Apple Silicon platform. As a result, I use Fedora Asahi Remix natively on the hardware. It's a few generations behind in support (M1- and M2-based systems right now), but I can't tell you how good it feels to be able to use Linux natively on Apple Silicon hardware. In my workflow, Fedora Asahi Remix runs at least twice as fast as macOS on the same hardware for any…

It's a few years behind is true, but the gap keeps widening. DP Alt Mode isn't supported. M3 and M4 support might never happen. It doesn't seem like a viable long-term alternative to be honest.

Re: I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

#73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The one issue I had was creating a new admin user for a client project (so I can just package everything created for that client neatly) and then immediately run into permissions issue. After that, I installed macports and never looked back (other than checking formula for installation guidance for some package).

When I used to daily drive a mac, I had Macports since day one, with no issue I can remember. This lasted for some 14 years, out of which 8 were on the same machine. Whenever this kind of discussion comes up around these parts, you can bet on there being a bunch of people complaining about Brew, but Macports basically never comes up. So I have to wonder: why does everyone use Brew? Does it have features or other adva…

I also used to use Macports exclusively (and Fink before that!). For me the reason behind the switch, after resisting it a long time, was simple: everything I used from Macports was also in Homebrew, but I just kept running into things I wanted to install that were in Homebew but not in Macports.

Re: I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

#74
post #21

My homebrew story is always something along the lines of: Me: Please install software A. Homebrew: In order to install it I will also install 20 libraries (some need to be built from source), update openssl, update Python and wreck all virtual environments. Also since its been a while I decided it must be time to upgrade your other unrelated packages. Enjoy!

Yea, homebrew feels like a package manager for people who have no idea what packages or versions are.

Its doing so much hand-holding and extra stuff, it cant be really considered “pro” at all.

What bothers me the most is when they immediately remove packages because they get EOL’ed, but in the real world it doesn’t work like this.

I still have projects that use old PHP versions for example and brew just refuses to install these since they have been deprecated.

So then you have to use some finicky workaroud and download these old versions off of some repo/cask that will also probably go away at some point.

Re: I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

#75
post #69

I don't really understand the comparison with a cheap Asus laptop. Ofcourse the MBP will win. But a decent Lenovo ThinkPad or HP EliteBook/ZBook will have flawless Linux support with a rigid and robust chassis.

The vast majority of which unfortunately still come with Intel processors, especially the premium models. I handed my work issued Lenovo X1 back to my employer as being unusable due to overheating and excessive thermal throttling. The M4 Macbook Pro I now have is such a huge positive difference, I have adjusted to macOS and enjoy Intel outside.

Re: I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

#76
post #33
post #15

I wouldn't try to make macOS into Arch, if Arch is what works for you. Just run Arch in a VM on the mac, using Apple's virtualization framework [1]. (No need for other wrappers; the framework is often easier to use directly.) I find no significant performance issues; a lot of software actually runs faster in a Linux VM than when I compile and run it on the mac. The limitations are that the Linux VM's don't support sa…

Insane that their official docs suggest running some Xcode project to start your VM. It seems like such a powerful feature might have a better UI.

Is it also insane to have access to a CLI in a graphical user interface? It just gives you a different level of abstraction to work with. If you want a simple GUI, just grab UTM https://mac.getutm.app>. Also: check out their gallery.

Re: I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

#77
post #21

My homebrew story is always something along the lines of: Me: Please install software A. Homebrew: In order to install it I will also install 20 libraries (some need to be built from source), update openssl, update Python and wreck all virtual environments. Also since its been a while I decided it must be time to upgrade your other unrelated packages. Enjoy!

I install a modern llvm toolchain and then just build from source

Re: I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

#78

For the same reasons, I prefer Linux - but also like Apple Silicon platform. As a result, I use Fedora Asahi Remix natively on the hardware. It's a few generations behind in support (M1- and M2-based systems right now), but I can't tell you how good it feels to be able to use Linux natively on Apple Silicon hardware. In my workflow, Fedora Asahi Remix runs at least twice as fast as macOS on the same hardware for any…

What about support for graphics? Does it work?

Yes, thanks to the heroic efforts of Alyssa Rosenzweig https://rosenzweig.io/>, Asahi Lina https://www.youtube.com/c/AsahiLina>, and others.

Unfortunately, a lot of this effort seems stalled by some of the Linux kernel developers' hostility towards Rust, which also prompted Hector Martin (marcan42) to leave the project.

Now at the current rate, Apple is still moving backwards faster than the FOSS community is moving forward. I actually miss macOS 10.5 on PowerPC.

Re: I Used Arch, BTW: macOS, Day 1

#80
post #21

My homebrew story is always something along the lines of: Me: Please install software A. Homebrew: In order to install it I will also install 20 libraries (some need to be built from source), update openssl, update Python and wreck all virtual environments. Also since its been a while I decided it must be time to upgrade your other unrelated packages. Enjoy!

Nix Darwin is the solution.

nix for CLI and config and Homebrew (through nix-darwin) for GUI programs is a good combo.
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