The Asahi Linux project, an independent initiative to support Linux on Apple Silicon Macs, has made significant progress since its inception three years ago. Despite no assistance from Apple, the project has evolved from an unstable experiment into a functional and usable desktop operating system. In fact, the Asahi driver’s support for OpenGL and OpenGL ES graphics now surpasses what Apple offers in macOS.
Alyssa Rosenzweig, a developer involved in the project, recently announced that the Asahi GPU driver is fully compliant with OpenGL version 4.6 and OpenGL ES version 3.2, which are the most up-to-date versions of these APIs. This achievement is particularly impressive considering that Apple’s GPUs lack the necessary features to support the implementation of these APIs. Rosenzweig explained that they overcame this challenge by using innovative techniques such as transforming compute shaders to simulate missing features like geometry shaders, tessellation, and transform feedback.
With the Asahi GPU driver now supporting the latest OpenGL and OpenGL ES standards, the team’s focus has shifted to achieving support for the Vulkan API on Apple’s hardware. While macOS currently offers limited Vulkan support through translation layers like MoltenVK, the Asahi Linux project aims to provide native support for this low-overhead API. The inclusion of Vulkan support will enable the operating system to fully utilize software like Valve’s Proton, expanding the range of available applications and games.
Although there are still some non-functional features, the Fedora Asahi Remix, a distribution based on the project, boasts impressive functionality and hardware support for most M1 and M2 Macs. However, Thunderbolt, USB-C displays, Touch ID fingerprint sensors, and other features remain non-functional. The development team also plans to extend their support to the latest generation of M3 Macs, although this will require additional time to accommodate the new M3 GPU and testing with the availability of the M3 Mac mini.
The continuous efforts and achievements of the Asahi Linux project represent a significant milestone in the Linux community’s endeavor to establish a robust and comprehensive operating system for Apple Silicon Macs. With further developments, Asahi Linux has the potential to provide users with a versatile and highly functional Linux experience on these devices.
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The source of the article is from the blog newyorkpostgazette.com