What Are the Differences Between macOS and Linux?

We often compare Linux and Windows, but what are the differences between macOS and Linux?

The differences between Linux and Windows are quite obvious, but Linux and macOS seem very similar to many people.

Both can run Unix commands in the command line and provide a vastly different experience from that of Windows. Moreover, not all applications and games available on Windows can run on macOS and Linux.

This is why some people believe that Apple’s macOS is a Linux-based system. However, that’s not the case. Despite their similarities, macOS is not Linux.

These two Unix-like operating systems have many differences, which I will point out in this article.

Let’s compare apples and oranges penguins.

Origins

macOS has a fascinating history. Its foundation was developed by Steve Jobs’ NeXT Computer company while he was not working at Apple. Technically, it is based on the Mach kernel and Unix-derived BSD.

At that time, NeXT developed the NeXTSTEP operating system to power the devices and computers it designed. Although it garnered some attention, it did not achieve great success. Later, Apple restored Jobs’ seat on the board, and as part of the deal, acquired NeXT, making NeXTSTEP the foundation of macOS.

This is why macOS is an operating system that combines Unix components and proprietary technologies from Apple.

In contrast, Linux (the kernel) is a free and open-source alternative to Unix.

Linux is not an operating system by itself; it requires additional components like a desktop environment to become a complete operating system. There are many operating systems based on Linux, referred to as distributions.

For simplicity, we will refer to these operating systems as Linux operating systems rather than specific distributions.

macOS Kernel vs. Linux Kernel

The official name for the macOS kernel is XNU. This abbreviation stands for “XNU is Not Unix” (a typical GNU-style recursive acronym). According to Apple’s GitHub page, XNU is a hybrid kernel that combines the Mach kernel developed at Carnegie Mellon University with components from FreeBSD and a C++ API for writing drivers.

The BSD subsystem portion of its code is “typically implemented as user-space servers in microkernel systems.” The Mach portion is responsible for low-level tasks such as multitasking, protected memory, virtual memory management, kernel debugging support, and console I/O.

The macOS kernel combines features of a microkernel (Mach) and a monolithic kernel (BSD), while Linux is purely a monolithic kernel. The monolithic kernel is responsible for managing CPU, memory, inter-process communication, device drivers, file systems, and system calls.

Commonalities

macOS utilizes Unix components, while Linux was built as a replacement for Unix. So, what do they have in common?

Both can use Unix commands, bash/zsh, and other shells. Perhaps the default shells differ, but you can configure them according to your preferences. Other than that, I can’t think of many similarities.

About ten years ago, we could say that the applications provided by Linux/macOS were relatively few. But times have changed. Over the years, the software ecosystems and game support for both have been continuously evolving, which we will discuss later in this article.

Codebase: Closed Source vs. Open Source

macOS is a closed-source operating system, which means you cannot see the complete source code of the operating system.

Of course, some parts of macOS (mostly GNU) libraries’ source code can be obtained. There is also the XNU kernel code used to develop macOS and iOS. However, you cannot just use this code to build a clone of macOS and install it on any hardware.

Not having the source code is not the end of the world, but you will gain less transparency due to Apple’s claims and practices to protect and enhance your computer experience.

Some believe that closed-source should be maintained for security reasons. However, both open-source and closed-source face security threats.

The difference is that, compared to Apple, which has a limited number of employees, open-source software can be quickly patched due to the many developers in the open-source community.

Unless you completely trust Apple, the open-source model of Linux is superior.

Purpose and Use Cases

macOS is designed for use on desktops and laptops. It is very suitable for video editing, graphic design, and audio editing.

When it comes to Linux, you can do a lot of things. You can use Linux for:

• Clients
• Toasters (hope you understand the Internet of Things IoT)
• Single-board computers
• Servers

Of course, the experience of using it across various platforms differs, but Linux can run for various use cases.

So, if you like Linux, you can choose to use it on other platforms as well for a comfortable experience.

User Experience

When it comes to user experience, it depends on personal preference.

macOS provides a pleasant user interface. Detailed animations and high-resolution wallpapers and icons make it visually appealing.

You can expect a smooth and seamless experience across the platform.

With Linux, you can also get a similarly pleasant and user-friendly interface.

Unfortunately, the user experience varies with the desktop environments installed with different distributions.

You can check the list of the best desktop environments. You can even choose Linux distributions that resemble macOS.

For example, if you use Pop!_OS, Ubuntu, Zorin OS, or elementary OS, you will have an amazing experience.

If you use distributions like MX Linux or others, the user experience may not compare to macOS.

Overall, the out-of-the-box experience with Linux is inconsistent, but if you know what you’re doing, it’s sufficient.

If you previously used Windows, you might find Linux’s interface a bit confusing at first.

Customizability

If you want an operating system that allows you to modify every aspect of it, macOS is not for you.

While Apple’s designs are aesthetically pleasing most of the time, not everyone likes them.

If you want personalization, control, and extensive customization of the operating system’s specifics, Linux should be the perfect choice.

You can choose to customize the user interface as needed, using various elements and expressing your preferences. Check out our KDE customization guide to explore the possibilities.

While this is great, customizing things on a Linux system can sometimes backfire and make it messy. Therefore, you need to learn and explore what you want to customize.

Hardware Requirements

Hardware is where macOS suffers a “heavy blow”.

If you want to have macOS and a good experience, you need to buy expensive Apple hardware.

For instance, the basic configuration of a laptop that supports macOS starts from 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, costing $1200 or more.

Unless you want to frequently use swap space for multitasking and already have cloud storage, buying an Apple device would be a bad idea.

In contrast, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money but still want a decent configuration for your system (PC/laptop), it is easy to buy a device with 16 GB of RAM + 512 GB SSD for around $800 to run Linux.

Personal Note: I am used to 32 GB of RAM + 500 GB SSD storage. To get this multitasking space (without using swap space), I would have to pay a premium to Apple.

Some skilled “hackers” attempt to run macOS on non-Apple hardware. Such systems are called Hackintosh, but they certainly do not compare to the comfort of running Linux on a regular computer.

Software Ecosystem

With the proprietary applications or tools made by Apple for macOS, you can achieve a first-class native experience on macOS.

Yes, you might have to purchase these applications. However, unlike some subscription options, you can get one-time purchase options through macOS.

For users who want to design, edit videos, edit photos, and be creative, if you don’t mind investing, the software suite on macOS should be a good choice.

Free Apple tools (like iMovie, Keynote, etc.) are great on their own. Combining them with advanced tools like Final Cut Pro and Affinity Designer will give you a world-class editing experience. Don’t forget that creative tools like Adobe are also available on macOS.

Moreover, Apple has strict guidelines for applications on its platform to enhance the native experience of third-party applications (free or paid).

This is why many designers and editors prefer using macOS over other operating systems.

For the Linux platform, you can use great free and open-source software to replace some applications that are exclusive to macOS. Unless you have experience with specific macOS applications, you shouldn’t encounter issues using software available for Linux.

The native experience of applications depends on the Linux distribution you are using.

It may not be as perfect as macOS, but if you’re not a professional video or graphic editor, you should have no problem.

Gaming on Linux and macOS

While Apple has made good progress in making its new M1/M2 chips as powerful as possible, macOS currently has poor support for gaming.

A handful of games work well, and most are not officially supported. To be honest, buying a Mac for gaming is not its purpose.

Regarding Linux, many AAA and indie games run well. Of course, some games have issues. However, with Valve pushing for official support for games on Steam Deck, even the latest titles like Spider-Man: Remastered have received recognition on Steam Deck.

Ultimately, this will help improve gaming support on the Linux platform.

Additionally, considering that the PC graphics card market is nearly back to normal (at or below suggested retail prices), you can get a decent PC version or laptop without worrying about performance bottlenecks.

Will you spend over $1800 for a Mac with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD, or buy a PC/laptop with 32 GB of RAM (or more) and at least 1 TB SSD (or more)?

That is up to you.

Package Management

Package managers allow you to quickly find, install, or uninstall software in your operating system.

Compared to any existing system, Linux has always excelled in package management.

You can get out-of-the-box options like Flatpak, Snap, Synaptic, etc.

However, by default, Mac users do not have any reliable package manager. Fortunately, options like Homebrew greatly facilitate macOS users.

Of course, it also supports Linux. Therefore, you can use it across multiple devices to simplify operations.

System Upgrades

Apple does not provide a specific schedule for its operating system updates.

For example, macOS Ventura (as of writing this article, an upgrade is imminent) suddenly dropped support for all Mac devices made before 2017.

Interestingly, previous operating system versions averaged about seven years of support, but with the changes in updates, it now seems to be around five years.

For Apple-designed chips, this may not be a simple answer. However, at least 4 to 5 years of software support is safe to say.

Linux gives you choices. If you want a stable operating system that focuses only on maintenance and security without feature upgrades, the LTS versions of Linux distributions can provide five years of updates for free. This mainly applies to Ubuntu or Ubuntu-based distributions like Linux Mint.

Additionally, there is an Ubuntu subscription project that allows you to receive security updates for a continuous ten years.

Moreover, you can also choose rolling release versions to receive continuous cutting-edge updates with no end time. As long as your hardware can handle it, you should be able to update the operating system without issues.

macOS vs. Linux: Which Should You Choose?

If needed, macOS can be said to be worth the investment.

It is not recommended for users who only need to browse the internet, send emails, and perform tasks that can be done on any platform to purchase macOS.

macOS remains a niche choice.

However, with the improvements in Linux, it has become a useful choice for former Windows/macOS users, computer science students, developers, creative professionals (like us), and a wide range of potential users.

There are many reasons to choose Linux over macOS (and vice versa), but this is my perspective.

What are your thoughts on macOS vs. Linux? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

via: https://itsfoss.com/mac-linux-difference/

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