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Apple's most powerful desktop cannot install latest version of macOS
8 months ago
- M3 Ultra Mac Studio users report inability to install macOS 26 Tahoe.
- Issue occurs at the end of installation, reverting to macOS Sequoia.
- Problem appears limited to M3 Ultra Mac Studios; other devices install Tahoe successfully.
- Possible cause: installer fails to recognize M3 Ultra's Neural Engine.
- Apple acknowledges the issue and is working on a fix.
Apple: SSH and FileVault
8 months ago
- When FileVault is enabled, the data volume is locked until an account is authenticated with a password.
- OpenSSH in macOS stores configuration files in the data volume, making usual authentication methods unavailable during boot.
- Remote Login allows password authentication via SSH to unlock the data volume remotely.
- After unlocking, macOS disconnects SSH briefly to mount the data volume and start dependent services.
- This feature was introduced in macOS 26 Tahoe.
The myth and reality of Mac OS X Snow Leopard [2023]
7 months ago
- The myth of Snow Leopard being a 'bug fix update' was debunked, as it had significant new features and was initially buggy.
- Snow Leopard's reputation for stability comes from its later updates (10.6.8), not the initial release (10.6.0).
- Major software updates inherently introduce new bugs, and frequent updates exacerbate this issue by accumulating technical debt.
- Under Tim Cook, Apple shifted to annual major macOS updates, reducing stability compared to the slower, more deliberate updates under Steve Jobs.
- Users and developers long for periods of stability with minor bug fixes rather than disruptive annual major updates.
- The comparison between iOS and macOS update schedules highlights differing needs based on platform maturity and hardware ties.
- The public and even 'normal' users often prefer fewer, more stable updates over frequent, disruptive changes.
Benjamin Button Reviews macOS
7 months ago
- Apple's first desktop OS, Tahoe, had a poor UI design resembling a toy, leading to negative reviews.
- macOS Sequoia improved UI with reduced border radius, more serious buttons, and detailed icons.
- Subsequent releases (Sonoma, Ventura) focused on professional users, moving away from entertainment-centric features.
- Monterey deprecated SwiftUI for native architecture and introduced a new Settings app with better usability.
- Catalina brought significant UI improvements like high-contrast panels and solid borders, enhancing legibility.
- Catalina also allowed developers to distribute apps without Apple's notarization, opening the platform.
- Mojave added 32-bit app support, expanding the app library overnight.
- High Sierra dropped 'universal' apps, signaling a shift to professional needs over mobile-centric features.
- Apple renamed macOS to OS X, decoupling from iOS and later discontinued the App Store in Snow Leopard.
- Later releases (Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion) refined UI with skeuomorphic design and better usability practices.
- Apple lowered system requirements over time while increasing UI detail and color.
- Features like Finder tabs and notifications were removed, but additions included 32-bit support and navigation improvements.
- OS X Cheetah today is minimalistic, user-friendly, and allows unrestricted third-party app installation.
macOS Launcher was nerfed. Here is a replacement
7 months ago
- Apple removed icon rearranging and folders from Launchpad in macOS 26 Tahoe.
- Launchie restores these features and adds more control to app launching.
- Features include intuitive drag & drop, custom folders, and instant search.
- Open Launchie quickly with CMD + Shift + Space or a custom shortcut.
- Download involves getting the .zip from GitHub, extracting, and moving to Applications.
- First launch may require right-click → Open due to macOS security.
Disk Utility still can't check and repair APFS volumes and containers
7 months ago
- Disk Utility's First Aid tool has persistent issues with unmounting APFS volumes and containers in macOS Monterey 12.0.1.
- The tool relies on the command `fsck_apfs` with options `y` (auto-repair) and `x` (private communication).
- Best practice involves unmounting the volume or container before repair, but this step often fails in Disk Utility.
- Workarounds include using Recovery mode or manually unmounting and running `fsck_apfs` in Terminal.
- Commands like `sudo fsck_apfs -n /dev/disk7s2` (check only) or `sudo fsck_apfs -y /dev/disk7s2` (check and repair) can bypass Disk Utility's issues.
- Apple recommends checking volumes first, then containers, and finally disks, contrary to previous advice.
- Encrypted volumes can be checked live with the `-l` option or unlocked without mounting.
- The issue does not affect HFS+ volumes, only APFS.
- Disk Utility's backup advice is ironic for Time Machine volumes, which cannot be backed up themselves.
Electron-based apps cause system-wide lag on macOS 26 Tahoe
7 months ago
- Users must be signed in to change notification settings.
- Issue reported with macOS 26 RC causing lag when Electron-based apps like Discord and VS Code are open.
- Problem persists even when apps are not minimized, affecting smooth 120fps experience.
- Low CPU and GPU usage reported during lag occurrences.
- Request for users to submit feedback via Feedback Assistant with sysdiagnose for further investigation.
- Issue not present in macOS 15 and does not occur in Chromium/Google Chrome.
Show HN: Macscope – I decide to built a better Cmd-Tab replacement for macOS
7 months ago
- Macscope enhances window switching with visual navigation.
- Allows searching, arranging, and managing open windows and browser tabs.
- Features intelligent previews and adaptable keyboard shortcuts.
- Designed for ease of use with zero learning curve.
Show HN: An open source Launchpad for macOS 26
7 months ago
- LaunchNext is an enhanced version of LaunchNow, designed to replace macOS Tahoe's removed Launchpad.
- It offers a classic Launchpad experience with features like one-click import from the old system Launchpad, multi-language support, and custom icon sizes.
- LaunchNext includes smart folder management, instant search, and keyboard navigation, but lacks some customization features like drag-and-drop.
- The app is built with SwiftUI, SwiftData, and AppKit, ensuring deep macOS system integration.
- To run unsigned apps, use the command `sudo xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/LaunchNext.app`.
- LaunchNext supports macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later and is available for both Apple Silicon and Intel processors.
- The project is open-source under GPL 3 license and welcomes contributions from the community.
- Current development focuses on fixing scrolling behavior and folder creation issues.
- LaunchNext emphasizes user control and personalization, standing as a community commitment to customizable interfaces.
Simple Hotkey Daemon for macOS, Ported to Zig
7 months ago
- skhd.zig is a hotkey daemon for macOS, ported from skhd to Zig, maintaining compatibility with original skhd configuration files.
- New features include process groups, command definitions (.define), key forwarding/remapping, and improved error reporting.
- Installation options include Homebrew, direct download for specific architectures, or building from source with Zig.
- Service management commands allow for easy startup, status checks, and stopping of the skhd service.
- Features include event capturing, hotkey mapping, process-specific bindings, modal systems, and comprehensive error reporting.
- Configuration syntax is fully compatible with original skhd, with additional directives for shell customization, blacklisting, and loading additional config files.
- Advanced features include left/right modifier distinction, special key support, passthrough mode, and config includes.
- Debugging and profiling options vary by build mode (Debug, ReleaseSafe, ReleaseFast, ReleaseSmall), with ReleaseFast optimized for daily use.
- Example configurations demonstrate basic hotkey mappings, application-specific commands, window management modes, and reusable command definitions.
- Performance optimizations ensure low-latency hotkey processing, with allocation-free event loops in release builds.
Track which Electron apps slow down macOS 26 Tahoe
7 months ago
- Electron apps on macOS have a major GPU performance issue (electron/electron#48376).
- 21 applications are tracked, with 6 fixed and 15 not fixed.
- Developers are advised to update Electron to versions v38.2.0, v37.6.0, or v36.9.2.
- List of affected apps includes 1Password, Balena Etcher, Beeper, Bitwarden, Bruno, Claude App, Cluely, Cursor, Discord, Figma, GitHub Desktop, Notion, Obsidian, Pocket Casts, Postman, Signal, Slack, Visual Studio Code, and Windsurf.
- Users are encouraged to ask app developers to update Electron.
A Mac-like experience on Linux
7 months ago
- Author switched from MacOS to Linux in 2016, initially trying GNOME based on recommendations.
- Found GNOME not Mac-like despite common claims, highlighting key differences in UI elements like Dock, Global Menubar, and Desktop icons.
- GNOME lacks MacOS features such as at-a-glance app status monitoring and extensive configurability, focusing instead on minimal distraction.
- Recommends KDE Plasma for a more Mac-like experience, citing similarities in dock-style panel, desktop widgets, and personalization options.
- Notes minor differences in KDE Plasma but considers it closer to MacOS than GNOME, especially for users not leaving MacOS due to distractions.
Show HN: Re-Implementing the macOS Spatial Finder
7 months ago
- Scripts make macOS Finder remember folder size and position.
- Only affects folders within the Documents folder.
- Inspired by an article on Ars Technica.
- Link scripts to a path and execute install.sh to install yabai rules.
- Finder window states are saved in a hidden .framedata.json file.
- State is not saved or restored for folders with duplicate names.
disk-perf-git-and-pnpm aims to prove that something is wrong with APFS on macOS
7 months ago
- Repo aims to test APFS performance issues on macOS and serves as a stress test for file system events.
- Setup requires Node >= 22.11, pnpm >= 10.2, and cloning the repo followed by dependency installation.
- Commands provided for clean and install tests on different OS (macOS, Windows, Linux) with timing instructions.
- Performance data table includes CPU, RAM, clean/install times, OS, file system, disk, and software changes.
- macOS APFS shows slower performance compared to Linux ext4, especially with encryption and security tools.
- Options to improve macOS file system performance: RAM disk, OverlayFS via Docker, or using a Linux VM.
Vibing a Non-Trivial Ghostty Feature
7 months ago
- Mitchell Hashimoto developed a non-trivial feature for Ghostty (unobtrusive macOS automatic updates) using AI.
- The feature was inspired by an incident where a Ghostty update interrupted a high-profile OpenAI keynote.
- The update notifications are designed to be non-modal and appear in the terminal window without disrupting the user's workflow.
- Hashimoto used AI to prototype the UI, which was later refined manually.
- The development process involved multiple AI sessions, cleanup phases, and manual interventions to ensure code quality.
- A significant bug was encountered during development, which required a pivot in the approach to placing update notifications.
- The backend was developed with AI assistance, but initial attempts were discarded due to suboptimal structuring.
- Simulation code was created to test various update scenarios, aiding in UX improvements.
- The total cost for AI sessions was $15.98, and the feature was developed over approximately 8 hours of focused work.
- Hashimoto emphasizes the importance of manual review before shipping AI-generated code.
Show HN: rift – a tiling window manager for macOS
7 months ago
- Multiple layout styles including Tiling (i3/sway-like) and Binary Space Partitioning (bspwm-like)
- Menubar icon showing workspaces and layouts
- MacOS-style mission control for visual workspace navigation
- Focus follows mouse with auto raise
- Drag windows to swap positions
- Performant animations
- Trackpad gestures for switching workspaces
- Hot reloadable configuration
- Interoperability with third-party programs like Sketchybar
- CLI and mach port for making requests
- Signals sent on startup, workspace switches, and window changes
- Does not require disabling SIP
- Works with 'Displays have separate Spaces' enabled
- Active development, no official release yet
- Issues and PRs welcome
- Fork of glide-wm, uses private APIs reverse engineered by yabai
Wireshark 4.6.0 Supports macOS Pktap Metadata (PID, Process Name, etc.)
7 months ago
- Wireshark 4.6.0 now supports parsing process metadata from network captures on macOS.
- Use the 'pktap' interface parameter with tcpdump to capture packets with process info.
- Example commands: 'tcpdump -i pktap,en0 -w outfile.pcapng' or 'tcpdump -i pktap,all host 192.168.0.6 -w outfile.pcapng'.
- Open the capture file in Wireshark and check 'Frame → Process Information' for details like process name and PID.
- Filter captures using 'frame.darwin.process_info' fields, e.g., 'frame.darwin.process_info.pname == "firefox"' or 'frame.darwin.process_info.pid == 92046'.
- This feature helps identify unexpected network traffic or monitor process network activity.
Users are downgrading from macOS 26
7 months ago
- macOS 15.6's share declined from 63% (August 2025) to 33.48% (September 2025).
- macOS 15.7 debuted in mid-September 2025, reaching 18.64% by month-end.
- macOS 26.0 grew to 28.61% by September 2025, peaking near 40% mid-month.
- TelemetryDeck shares analytics data to support developers, with copyright restrictions.
- Using TelemetryDeck can lead to faster growth, higher revenue, and better user satisfaction.
Show HN: Scriber Pro – Transcribe 4.5hr video in 3.5min, 100% offline on Mac
7 months ago
- Scriber Pro is an offline AI transcription tool for macOS.
- It can transcribe a 4.5-hour video in just 3.5 minutes, faster than services like Rev and Otter.
- Supports various formats including MP3, WAV, MP4, MOV, M4A, and FLAC.
- Ensures accurate timecodes without drift or chunking errors, regardless of file length.
- 100% offline processing ensures data privacy—no cloud uploads or surveillance.
- Export options include SRT, VTT, JSON, PDF, DOCX, TXT, Markdown, and CSV.
- Promo codes for HN users have been claimed; available on the Mac App Store.
The macOS LC_COLLATE hunt: Or why does sort order differently on macOS and Linux
7 months ago
- The `sort(1)` command orders package names differently on macOS and Linux even with the same locale settings (`LC_ALL=en_US.UTF-8`).
- On macOS, `LC_COLLATE` for most locales symlinks to `la_LN.US-ASCII`, which uses simple byte-value comparison, similar to the POSIX locale (`C`).
- Linux (glibc) uses ISO 14651 collation rules, leading to more sophisticated sorting (e.g., `python3-dev` before `python-dev`).
- macOS's collation rules originate from FreeBSD 5 (early 2000s) and remain unchanged for backward compatibility.
- The difference stems from macOS's minimalistic collation rules versus Linux's adherence to international standards (ISO 14651).

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#macos

Apple's most powerful desktop cannot install latest version of macOS

Apple: SSH and FileVault

The myth and reality of Mac OS X Snow Leopard [2023]

Benjamin Button Reviews macOS

macOS Launcher was nerfed. Here is a replacement

Disk Utility still can't check and repair APFS volumes and containers

Electron-based apps cause system-wide lag on macOS 26 Tahoe

Show HN: Macscope – I decide to built a better Cmd-Tab replacement for macOS

Show HN: An open source Launchpad for macOS 26

Simple Hotkey Daemon for macOS, Ported to Zig

Track which Electron apps slow down macOS 26 Tahoe

A Mac-like experience on Linux

Show HN: Re-Implementing the macOS Spatial Finder

disk-perf-git-and-pnpm aims to prove that something is wrong with APFS on macOS

Vibing a Non-Trivial Ghostty Feature

Show HN: rift – a tiling window manager for macOS

Wireshark 4.6.0 Supports macOS Pktap Metadata (PID, Process Name, etc.)

Users are downgrading from macOS 26

Show HN: Scriber Pro – Transcribe 4.5hr video in 3.5min, 100% offline on Mac

The macOS LC_COLLATE hunt: Or why does sort order differently on macOS and Linux