Roger Fingas
Apple has silently released ARM-ready source code for the XNU kernels found in iOS and macOS, marking a first for iOS, and possibly showing off some of the groundwork for Macs with ARM-based processors.
The code is available through a GitHub repository. While exposing some of the operating systems' internal architecture, many proprietary elements — such as apps and frameworks — are of course absent, and Apple's kernels are being offered under a more restrictive license than some other open-source projects, such as most Linux distributions.
All of the Apple A-series processors in iPhones, iPads, iPods, and the Apple TV use ARM-based designs. Macs have depend primarily on Intel processors since 2006.
Recent rumors have claimed that Apple could be designing its own ARM-based CPU for future Macs in an attempt to reduce its dependence on Intel. While Intel chips are generally regarded as powerful, the company puts out CPUs on an independent schedule and doesn't specifically optimize them for Mac hardware.
ARM-compatible kernels aren't necessarily a sign that a transition is imminent, or even planned. MacBook Pros already use one Apple ARM chip, the T1, to run the Touch Bar and Touch ID. The company has also made it a tradition of having code ready for alternate architectures — that policy helped the company make its original switch to Intel faster than expected.
There could be several potential complications with a wider ARM transition, such as Boot Camp, which lets Macs run Windows through a separate partition. Microsoft is however working on ARM compatibility for Windows, which might smooth out some issues.
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
Christine McKee
Chip Loder
Marko Zivkovic
18 Comments
Hoooooray!!!!! I still need Intel Macs for work though. A consumer ARM chip would be cool.
Either a sign of intent, or a big play for Intel negotiations (these rumours always seem to crop up around the time of processor price setting negotiations...)
I'd love to see them do it. Intel has been on a slow trickle for years and I'd be interested to see if Apple could do better, it would set Macs apart the same way the A series sets iPhones apart, no one has been able to catch the latter.
Also their in-house GPU, that would be an easier start point than an ISA transition probably.
A-Series Mac mini...coming soon!
And NO...it will NOT have replaceable RAM or storage. If this comes to fruition, I wouldn't expect this to be that much larger than the current AppleTV. Maybe slightly wide to accommodate slightly better cooling and a few USB-C ports. Doesn't really need anything else. Honestly, this would be great for kiosks, businesses and schools. They don't need tons of horsepower for general everyday stuff.
I believe there will always be either an Intel and/or AMD based Mac available for some time. Apple isn't quite matching those numbers for hardcore users, or even mid-core users, but in time they will get there. Apple has gotten pretty good with transitions, and make them fairly seamless. I have a feeling they're working on making something like this and will have a fairly smooth rollout similar to the PPC to Intel rollout. Sure, it wasn't perfect, but it wasn't a horrendous failure either.
I'm confused. Why does ARM-ready source code of a kernel that already run on ARM CPUs have to mean anything one way or the other about the future of MacOS? I do think we'll eventually see an ARM based Mac, I just don't know how this relates. Clearly ARM-ready source code for the kernel has been around for at least a decade now.
And I'd be really shocked of Apple hasn't run internal builds of MacOS on ARM long before now.