Asahi Linux, a project aiming to bring native Linux desktops to Apple Silicon-based Mac computers, is facing significant challenges. The project’s founder has also announced their retirement.
Developers are struggling to merge their work with the mainstream Linux kernel, as their platform contains over 1,000 patches not yet upstreamed. This requires constant rebase and conflict resolution, hindering progress on supporting newer Mac models like M3 and M4 chipsets.
Organizational and political issues also contribute to the delays, including disagreements over using Rust instead of C for code development. Since Asahi primarily uses Rust, which is not fully supported by Linux kernel leadership, it’s difficult to upstream their work.
However, users running Linux virtual machines on top of macOS, such as Ubuntu and Fedora VMs in Parallels or VMWare, remain unaffected. They utilize the ARM virtualization framework developed by Apple, separate from Asahi’s native implementation.
Recent progress on M1 and M2 devices is being put on hold, with some community members working on reverse-engineering to prepare for a solid foundation. Meanwhile, improvements for DisplayPort alt mode, Vulkan, and internal microphone support are in development for these models.
Until the Asahi Linux team resolves their issues, users can expect a more reliable experience on PCs or Intel-based Macs rather than M1 or later Macs.
Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/asahi-linux-reorganization-m3-m4-mac-support