Helium is a new open source OS project that aims to provide a similar experience and some compatibiilty with macOS on x86-64 sytems. It will build on the solid foundations of FreeBSD, existing open source packages in the same space, and new code to fill the gaps.
The main design goals are:
- source compatibility with macOS applications (i.e. you could compile a Mac application on Helium and run it)
- similar GUI metaphors and familiar UX (file manager, application launcher, top menu bar that reflects the open application, etc)
- compatible with macOS filesystems (HFS+ and APFS) and folder layouts (/Library, /System, /Users, /Volumes, etc)
- self-contained applications in folders or a single file and a (mostly) installer-less experience for /Applications
- maintain compatibility with the FreeBSD base system and X11 - a standard Unix environment under the hood
- compatible with Linux binaries via FreeBSD's Linux support
- eventual compatibility with x86-64 macOS binaries (Mach-O) and libraries
- pleasant to use, secure, stable, and performant
In theory, it will be easier to build Mac code on FreeBSD because it is closer to macOS than Linux is. BSD kernels also support a foreign system call interface which should help make emulating Mach system calls easier, and eliminates the need to emulate BSD system calls like Darling (on Linux) does. Also, why not? Devils need love too!
No. Consider projects like ReactOS, a from-scratch effort to create an OS compatible with Microsoft Windows, GNUstep, which provides an open implementation of Cocoa APIs and other things, or Darling, a Darwin (macOS) emulation on Linux. Helium is similar and stands on the shoulders of many such projects.
All code used is freely available under open source licenses. No proprietary elements like fonts, icons, trademarks, etc can be used. Original code must be written using "clean room" techniques - that is, from public documentation like developer guides by people who have never seen the proprietary code - and released under the FreeBSD license or the MIT license.
The goal is to use a small core set of languages as much as possible: the "C" family (C, C++, Objective-C), Swift, Python, Java, and shell scripts. This should cover most needs.
Great! We are just getting organized right now. Follow the project and watch for updates!
Absolutely! There will be art, documentation, testing, UX and UI work, release management, project management, legal advice, and many other ways to contribute. Follow the project and watch for updates!
Probably. But...
