Author Topic: PPC Virtualization/ Software compilation  (Read 1395 times)

Siplus

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PPC Virtualization/ Software compilation
« on: 11 March 2005, 22:48 »
I'm going to be buying a 12" powerbook soon, and I asked some questions that the sales/tech reps from apple couldn't answer.


Are there any virtualization programs for Mac OS X / PPC? I know there is VirtualPC, but I have absolutely no intentions on buying it from MS (and I don't support piracy), so i'm wondering if there is something for PPC virtualization and/or x86 virtualization underneath Mac OS X

Also, can I just do a simple compile to make linux programs I am currently used to using work on Mac OS X? I know I would have to install X11 first, but would I have to find linux/ppc source to compile, or can i use linux/x86 source to compile, or do I have no idea what i'm talking about?

Can i install linux/pcc binaries?


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Laukev7

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Re: PPC Virtualization/ Software compilation
« Reply #1 on: 12 March 2005, 01:28 »
You can get Guest PC for $70 or Bochs for OS X for free.

Your easiest option for compiling on OS X would be to use Fink, which is similar to the FreeBSD ports system. If you want to compile manually, that will depend on how portable the application is (ie. whether it requires certain Linux features or contains x86 assembly code, for example).

If you're interested, you might want to check Apple's porting guide:

http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Porting/Conceptual/PortingUnix/

As for Linux binary compatibility, I don't think that's available on OS X (though there is such a thing for other systems like FreeBSD).

WMD

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Re: PPC Virtualization/ Software compilation
« Reply #2 on: 12 March 2005, 02:03 »
There's also QEMU.

And Fink is more like apt, than ports.  But it works really well.  Apple even puts in a window manager that looks exactly like native Aqua programs.
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bedouin

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Re: PPC Virtualization/ Software compilation
« Reply #3 on: 12 March 2005, 07:25 »
I prefer Darwinports over Fink.  If a project isn't available through either Fink or Darwinports, you can attempt to build from source.  There really is no such thing as x86 or PPC source code; if you download the source for say, LAME, it will build fine in OS X.  Some apps can fail to build, but that happens across different Linux distributions occasionally just the same.  

As a Linux to OS X switcher, there really weren't many GUI Linux apps I yearned for after switching; OS X generally does it better.  The apps I do use under X11 are ones that I access so infrequently that they're not worth purchasing OS X equivalents of.  The only app I use under X11 is PAN, because I'm too cheap to pay for Unison, even though its superior.  CLI apps generally have binaries available or compile with ease.

As others have mentioned, VirtualPC and Bochs are pretty much the only emulators in town for x86 on PPC.  If you need x86 emulation bad enough, I suggest you just break down and purchase VirtualPC.  The last version (6.1) can be purchased cheaply enough on eBay, along with a copy of NT4, which blazes in VPC.  

For PPC virtual machines you have a couple different options.  In OS X, there's SheepShaver, which can run older versions of MacOS, like 7 and 8 (maybe 9, I forget).  It's still in beta stage, and last time I experimented with it, not incredibly stable.  

If you decide to install Linux on your PowerBook, Mac-on-Linux will let you run an OS X virtual machine inside Linux; since this is not emulation, the speed is close to native.

Generally, unless one has a specific reason, running Linux on a Mac just doesn't make much sense.  OS X just rocks.  However, when my machines begin showing their age, I'm glad to know they are Linux-ready.