In a big move away from its usual team-up with Intel, Apple announced in 2020 that it would start making its own home made chips, called the Apple Silicon or M series chips. This major shift started a new time for computers, mixing remarkable low energy consumption with substantial speed and power. Apple’s audacious choice also made opportunity for various OS to function on its new devices, despite Apple not officially supporting porting any other OS into their Apple Silicon devices.
Why is Linux on Apple Chips so Exciting?
Linux, loved for being free and customizable, is very different from macOS in some big ways, like how it works on servers and links computers together. While macOS is made for traditional users, Linux is remarkable to address diverse tech-intensive and niche assignments. Apple Silicon, which utilize power very efficiently, are highly appealing to Linux experts who want to optimize their use for diverse computer tasks.
The development of Asahi Linux began due to the desire to leverage Apple’s M chips within the Linux ecosystem. Led by Hector Martin, also known as @Marcan42 online, this project gained popularity through a tweet querying the community’s interest in funding a Linux port to Apple Silicon Macs. Martin, who is distinguished for making modifications to the Wii and putting Linux on the PS3 and PS4, got a huge yes from over 11,000 people who wanted to see Linux work on Apple machines.
Building Asahi Linux was hard, mainly because they had to take apart and understand Apple’s own chips. Martin and his group took careful steps to get the Linux core and other parts to work right with Apple Silicon. Their work not only made it possible to move Linux over but also helped find and fix some big issues in Apple’s chips, which earned them recognition in Apple’s acknowledgment for bug fixes.
Asahi Linux is now available as a strong option, showcasing the collaboration of the community behind open-source software development. While specific elements, like Thunderbolt 3 support, are still in progress, the project represents a significant milestone in making Linux accessible on Apple’s latest hardware.
Future-Oriented Paths
The release of Asahi Linux and later adaptations, like the Fedora Asahi Remix made just for Apple chips, show how good new Apple Silicon based products like the Mac Mini could be as a server and in data centers. These steps open doors for a range of server models and the possibility of using less power in data centers.
While the Asahi Linux work moves forward, it serves as a bridge between the robust, energy-efficient hardware of Apple Silicon and the versatility and openness of the Linux operating system.
