This video discusses the current state and significant challenges of running Linux, particularly the Asahi Linux project, on Apple Silicon hardware (M1, M2, M3, M4). The speaker highlights recent difficulties reported by Asahi developers regarding M4 support, stemming from changes in Apple's boot process that hinder reverse engineering efforts. Compounding these technical hurdles are the recent resignations of key developers like Hector Martin and Lisa Leon, raising concerns about the project's future progress. The speaker reiterates their long-standing skepticism towards using Apple Silicon for Linux, criticizing the complex, fragile, and non-standard boot process (which requires macOS, internal storage, and has been broken by Apple updates), the slow upstreaming of drivers, and the lack of key features like hardware video acceleration even after years of effort. They contrast this unfavorably with standard x86 laptops (like ThinkPads) and more open ARM-based systems (like the Steam Deck), which offer easier booting, better serviceability, comparable performance, and operate within standard frameworks. The speaker strongly advises against purchasing proprietary Apple hardware for Linux use, urging viewers to "vote with their wallet" for more open and user-controllable platforms.
The State of Linux on Apple Silicon: Challenges and Recommendations
0:00:54 Apple Silicon Linux Status: The video addresses the current situation of running Linux (specifically Asahi Linux) on Apple's M-series chips.
0:01:09 M4 Support Challenges: Asahi developer Sven Peter notes significant difficulties ("painful") in bringing up M4 support due to changes in Apple's bootloader and system state (SPTM running in EL2 with MMU enabled), making their usual reverse engineering methods using a hypervisor much harder.
0:02:47 Recommendation Against Apple Silicon: The speaker reaffirms their consistent advice against buying Apple Silicon for Linux due to its proprietary nature and the inherent difficulties.
0:03:01 Slow Progress Expected: M3 and especially M4 support is anticipated to be even slower to develop than M1/M2 support was.
0:03:13 Key Developer Departures: Hector Martin (marcan42) and Lisa Leon (GPU lead) have recently resigned from the Asahi Linux project, potentially impacting development speed and expertise. Burnout and disagreements (e.g., Rust integration) are mentioned as possible factors.
0:04:26 Project Reliance: The project heavily relies on a small number of highly skilled individuals, often working without direct payment (though Patreon supported), to reverse engineer extremely complex, closed hardware.
0:04:59 Asahi Progress Reality Check: While acknowledging the impressive speed of initial M1/M2 support (faster than the speaker's 10-year prediction), it's attributed partly to Apple's early mistakes making reverse engineering easier. Key features like hardware video acceleration remain unsupported, and even 3D graphics drivers aren't fully upstreamed after 3-4 years.
0:07:15 Technical Booting Hurdles: Changes in ARM Exception Levels (EL) initiated by Apple's firmware make it difficult for Asahi's tools (like the 'mini' hypervisor) to inspect macOS drivers effectively.
0:09:03 Comparison with Standard Hardware: Apple Silicon Macs are contrasted negatively with standard laptops like Lenovo ThinkPads, which offer better Linux compatibility, serviceability (upgradable storage), standard ports, sometimes touchscreens, and similar real-world performance for many tasks.
0:11:08 Complex & Fragile Booting: The boot process on Apple Silicon is criticized as highly annoying, non-standard (long power press, boot picker), reliant on internal storage only, and involving a convoluted setup needing macOS initially.
0:11:47 Apple Breaks Compatibility: Apple firmware updates have previously broken Asahi Linux installations (e.g., changing boot object requirements), forcing users to fix their setups. The current M4 changes are seen as another instance of this.
0:14:18 Convoluted Installation: Installing Linux requires complex steps involving partitioning, setting permissions from macOS, and using specialized scripts, unlike the standard "boot from USB" method on most PCs.
0:16:17 Multi-Stage Bootloader: The current common Asahi boot chain (often with Fedora) is criticized for its complexity and added boot time: Apple Firmware -> M1 mini -> U-Boot -> GRUB2 -> Linux Kernel.
0:19:45 Vote With Your Wallet: The speaker argues it's ethically questionable for unpaid volunteers to fix proprietary hardware from trillion-dollar companies and urges users to support open platforms by not buying closed ones.
0:20:46 Recommended Alternatives: Suggests using standard x86 hardware (ThinkPads) or more Linux-friendly ARM devices like the Steam Deck, which offer a standard boot process and better ecosystem support.
0:28:19 Other ARM Options: Mentions that Linux might run more easily on Qualcomm Snapdragon-based Windows laptops (like Microsoft Surface) due to their use of standard UEFI boot.
0:28:59 Power Efficiency Overhyped: Argues that Apple Silicon's initial efficiency advantage has shrunk considerably as competitors (AMD) have advanced, while Apple only made incremental gains ("tick-tick"). Lack of hardware video decode in Linux also impacts battery life.
0:36:32 Older Intel Mac Issues: Briefly touches on Linux difficulties on older Intel Macs, particularly hybrid graphics models where Apple firmware disables the integrated GPU unless specific workarounds are used, and the graphics multiplexer (Gmux) driver remains problematic.
0:41:15 Apple Hardware Quality Critique: Criticizes the physical durability of past MacBooks, showing significant wear on keys and disintegrating rubber seals on a well-cared-for Retina model.
0:47:10 Developer Effort Allocation: Suggests developer time is better spent improving Linux on open platforms rather than continuously reverse-engineering closed, proprietary systems.
0:49:36 Final Recommendation: Strongly advises against Apple Silicon for Linux users. Recommends the Steam Deck as a good example of a powerful, relatively open, Linux-friendly device.
0:53:30 Environmental & Obsolescence Concerns: Points out that Apple's closed, unrepairable design contributes to e-waste and planned obsolescence, which Asahi Linux efforts can only partially mitigate.