Notable Developer Starts Patreon to Fund Apple Silicon Linux Port - MacRumors

Developer Hector Martin, who describes himself as someone who "likes putting Linux on things," has launched a plan create a Linux port for Apple Silicon Macs.

Creating a Linux port is no easy task, and Linux creator Linus Torvalds has even said that he doesn't think it's a possibility.

Martin has experience getting Linux running on unusual platforms and has been able to create a Linux port for the PlayStation 4 but he acknowledges that an ‌Apple Silicon‌ Linux port is a much more serious undertaking.

Creating a Linux port for Apple's Macs is a full time job, and Martin says that it's not viable without financial support.

So you *can* run your own OS on ‌M1‌ macs - if such an OS exists.

But getting a Linux you would *want to use* working on Macs is a huge amount of work.

Martin says that he wants to create a Linux port for ‌Apple Silicon‌ Macs that people "actually want to use" with all basic hardware working, decent power management, and more.

"The main problem with the ‌M1‌ for me is the GPU and other devices around it, because that's likely what would hold me off using it because it wouldn't have any Linux support unless Apple opens up," said Torvalds.

Of course the irony is that Macs ARE running Linux, just a heavily customized version.

Of course the irony is that Macs ARE running Linux, just a heavily customized version.

Of course the irony is that Macs ARE running Linux, just a heavily customized version