The first beta release of the Airyx operating system is available, offering a macOS-style environment and aiming to provide some level of compatibility with macOS applications. Airyx is based on FreeBSD and uses an X server-based graphics stack. The developments of the project are distributed under the BSD license. The size of the bootable iso image is 1.9 GB (x86_64).
The goal of the project is to achieve compatibility with macOS applications at the source level (the ability to recompile the code of open macOS applications to run in Airyx) and executable files (patches have been added to the kernel and toolkit to run Mach-O executable files compiled for the x86-architecture). 64). The implementation of the interface uses typical macOS concepts, such as a top bar with a global menu, an identical menu structure, keyboard shortcuts, a Filer file manager similar in style, and support for commands such as launchctl and open. The graphical environment is based on the KDE Plasma shell, styled after macOS.
The HFS+ and APFS file systems used in macOS, as well as specific system directories, are supported. For example, in addition to FreeBSD's /usr and /usr/local hierarchies, Airyx uses the /Library, /System, and /Volumes directories. User home directories are located in the /Users directory. Each home directory has a ~/Library subdirectory for applications that use the Apple Cocoa API.
Applications can be packaged as self-sufficient app-packages (App Bundle) in the AppImage format, placed in the /Applications or ~/Applications directories. The programs do not require the installation and use of a package manager - just drag and drop the AppImage file. It also retains support for traditional FreeBSD packages and ports.
For compatibility with macOS, a partial implementation of the Cocoa API and Objective-C runtime (located in the /System/Library/Frameworks directory) is provided, as well as compilers and linkers additionally modified to support them. It is planned to implement support for Xcode project files and Swift programs. In addition to the macOS compatibility layer, Airyx also provides the ability to run Linux applications based on FreeBSD's Linux environment emulation infrastructure (Linuxulator).
Features of the first beta version of Airyx:
- Availability of examples of self-contained packages with Firefox, Terminal and Kate.
- New ObjectiveC installer based on AppKit (airyxOS.app).
- Included in Java SDK 17.0.1+12.
- Based on the FreeBSD 12.3RC kernel and system environment.
- Improved AppKit, with a more macOS-like color scheme and keyboard shortcuts, support for pop-up menus, improved font handling.
- Of the planned but not yet implemented features, the Dock-panel, a GUI for configuring WiFi, and solving problems with the Filer file manager in the KDE Plasma environment are noted.
Source: opennet.ru