Darling

Darling is an open-source software that allows you to run macOS applications on Linux. It implements a runtime environment to translate macOS system calls to Linux system calls, enabling macOS apps to run natively on Linux.

Darling alternatives ➤

What is Darling?

Darling is an open-source compatibility layer that aims to recreate the macOS system libraries, frameworks, and runtime environment on Linux. It allows you to run unmodified macOS executables on Linux just as if you were running them on a Mac.

The Darling project uses Wine and QEMU components to provide macOS API compatibility. It implements its own versions of macOS frameworks and processes like Foundation, CoreGraphics, AppKit, Quartz, and launchd. This allows macOS apps to run smoothly on Darling while still using Linux under the hood.

Some key capabilities and components of Darling include:

Binary translation of macOS executables to Linux binaries using QEMU
Reimplementations of core macOS system frameworks and services
Support for GUI applications using X11 or Wayland display servers
CLI tools and shell environment to run macOS commands on Linux

Darling can be installed on most common Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch. It allows Linux users to expand their application ecosystem and run popular apps like Microsoft Office, Adobe apps, iTunes, and more. As an open-source project, Darling is also constantly improving and adding support for more macOS applications.

Official Links

Official Website
www.darlinghq.org

The Best Darling Alternatives

Top Apps like Darling

Parallels Desktop, Wine, CrossOver, WineBottler, PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac, Windows Subsystem for Android, Windows Subsystem for Linux, Wineskin Winery, VMware Fusion, Vineyard, Turbo.net for Mac, Porting Kit, WinApps, Goldberg Emulator, Q4wine, WinConn are some alternatives to Darling.

Sugggest an alternative ❐

Parallels Desktop

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Wine

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CrossOver

CrossOver is a compatibility layer and commercial front-end for Wine. It allows you to install Windows applications and games on Linux, macOS, and Chrome OS. CrossOver uses Wine to translate Windows API calls into POSIX calls that Linux and macOS understand, enabling Windows programs to run without needing a dedicated...

WineBottler

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PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac

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Windows Subsystem for Android

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Windows Subsystem for Linux

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a compatibility layer developed by Microsoft that allows you to run Linux binaries natively on Windows 10 and Windows 11. WSL provides a Linux-compatible kernel interface developed by Microsoft which allows you to run GNU/Linux programs without having to dual boot or spin up...

Wineskin Winery

Wineskin Winery is a free and open source wrapper tool that allows you to run Windows software and games on macOS. It works by bundling the Windows application files along with the Wine compatibility layer into a macOS application bundle or 'wrapper'.To use Wineskin Winery, you first need to...

VMware Fusion

VMware Fusion is a Type 2 hypervisor developed by VMware for Mac users. It allows you to create and run virtual machines that emulate other operating systems on your Mac hardware. Fusion provides a simple user interface to set up, manage, and use virtual machines.Some key features and capabilities of...

Vineyard

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Turbo.net for Mac

Turbo.net is an application for macOS that aims to speed up and improve internet connectivity. It works by routing your internet traffic through a global network of proxy servers, enabling faster downloads, improved video streaming, and a more responsive browsing experience.Some key features of Turbo.net for Mac...

Porting Kit

Porting Kit is an application for MacOS that aims to make it easy to install and run many Windows games and applications on Apple's operating system. It uses a specialized compatibility layer technology similar to WINE on Linux to wrap Windows apps in a translation layer, allowing them to run...

WinApps

WinApps is an open-source compatibility layer program developed by the WinApps Team that allows Linux and macOS users to run Windows applications and games. It builds on the Wine compatibility layer and includes various custom patches and optimizations to improve compatibility with many popular Windows software titles.Some key features...

Goldberg Emulator

Goldberg Emulator is a program designed to emulate the functionality of the Steam service in order to play Steam games without a connection to Steam's servers. It was created by Filip Goljon because he wanted to have the freedom to play Steam games offline or on an unsupported platform.The...

Q4wine

Q4wine is an open source front-end application for Wine that aims to make it easier to install and configure Windows applications and games on Linux. It provides a graphical user interface for managing Wine prefixes, installing Windows software, and configuring Wine settings.Some of the key features of Q...

WinConn

WinConn is a remote access and administration tool designed specifically for Windows operating systems. It allows IT administrators, managed service providers, and help desk technicians to securely access computers and servers remotely to provide support, manage systems, transfer files, and more.Key features of WinConn include:Remote Control - Remotely...