Directory
Linux and macOS software covers desktop programs, distributions and documentation for Unix-like systems. Entries include desktop applications, command-line tools, package pages and distributions, along with the guides and video walkthroughs that help people set them up. Check the licence, the last release date, the system versions supported and how the software is installed. Some are official project sites, while others are community wikis or release mirrors that may lag behind. Support depends on your hardware and setup, so confirm compatibility and the current download from the project's own pages before you rely on it.
Heads is an open source custom firmware and OS configuration for laptops and servers. It combines physical hardening of hardware platforms and flash security features with custom coreboot firmware and a Linux boot loader in ROM, measuring boot steps into the TPM. It is intended for cases where data and state are stored on the computer.
Spicy Lyrics is a Spicetify extension that replaces Spotify's lyrics view with a word-by-word display that lights up as each word is sung. It offers community lyric uploads and syncs, customizable settings and works with the desktop Spotify app on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Instance is a Linux, macOS, BSD, or Unix resource for tools, documentation, communities, or system workflows.
Kap is a Linux, macOS, BSD, or Unix resource for tools, documentation, communities, or system workflows.
Later is a Mac menu bar app that saves and restores a workspace. It lets users close windows and reopen them later, at a destination or after scheduled minutes or hours. The listed uses include saving battery, tidying the desktop for screensharing and preparing for Zoom meetings.
Left on Read is a macOS desktop app that provides analytics and productivity tools for text messages, including revisiting messages, group chats and words of the year. It can schedule messages, send response reminders and manage an inbox. Texts are analyzed locally, and the software is open-source and runs offline. It is free to try.
Lima launches Linux virtual machines with automatic file sharing and port forwarding, similar to WSL2. It includes built-in support for containerd, and other container engines can also be used. Various guest Linux distributions are supported, with Ubuntu as the default, along with experimental support for non-Linux guests. Lima is a CNCF incubating project.
Linux for T2 is a Linux, macOS, BSD, or Unix resource for tools, documentation, communities, or system workflows.
Pictogram is a Mac utility for applying custom app icons. According to the source, it preserves custom icons after apps update themselves. A beta version is offered free. The app cannot change icons of apps pre-installed with macOS or apps downloaded from the App Store. It requires macOS 11.0 or newer.
Progressive Downloader is a download manager for OS X with multi-thread downloading support and integration with major browsers. It requires macOS 13 (Ventura) or newer, and older versions are available in an archive. The application includes a built-in FTP/SFTP/WebDAV browser and can be controlled from AppleScript, Automator or Shortcuts. Downloads can be limited to a specified time window.
puddletag is an audio tag editor primarily created for GNU/Linux, similar to the Windows program Mp3tag. It uses a spreadsheet-like layout so tags can be edited by hand and visible. It supports extracting tag information from filenames, renaming files based on tags with patterns, and basic tag editing. Functions include text replacement, trimming and case conversion, and Actions automate repetitive tasks. Web lookups using Amazon, Discogs, FreeDB and MusicBrainz are supported.
Quicksilver is a free, open-source macOS productivity application that enables users to launch apps, open files, and perform file and system actions via keyboard input. It offers hundreds of plugins to extend functionality, learns user habits to prioritize relevant actions, supports custom keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures, and provides multiple customizable interface styles. The project is actively maintained by a community of developers.
Rectangle is a macOS app that moves and resizes windows using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas. It is free and open source, supports macOS 10.15 and later on Intel and Apple Silicon, and can act as a drop-in replacement for Spectacle. A paid Rectangle Pro version adds custom shortcuts for any size and position.
Stats is a free, open-source macOS system monitor that runs in the menu bar and tracks CPU, GPU, RAM, disk, network, sensors, battery, Bluetooth and a clock. The app requires macOS 12 or later and supports Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. It offers 13 customizable widgets and is available as a direct download or via Homebrew.
SystemRescue (formerly SystemRescueCd) is a Linux system rescue toolkit distributed as a bootable medium for administering or repairing a system and its data after a crash. It runs from a CD/DVD drive or USB stick and can also be installed on a hard disk. Included utilities cover partitioning, filesystem tools and networking, and it supports Linux and Windows computers, desktops and servers.
Tauon is a playlist-first music player for locally owned music, available for Linux, Windows and macOS. It treats folders as albums and offers smart playlists, a tag editor, synced lyrics and custom layouts. It supports lossless and gapless playback across formats including FLAC, Opus, WavPack, APE, DSD and CUE sheets. Documentation notes it does not watch folders in the background for new music.
Teleport is a Linux, macOS, BSD, or Unix resource for tools, documentation, communities, or system workflows.
TextMate is a customizable text editor for macOS, developed as open source, with support for a large list of programming languages. Its features include multiple carets, file search, version control support, scoped settings, commands, snippets, bundles and macros. TextMate 2.0 requires macOS 10.12 or later.
The Unarchiver is a macOS application for opening archive files. It extracts formats including Zip, Zipx, RAR, 7z, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, LZMA, XZ, CAB, MSI, and several disc images, and supports encrypted and multi-volume archives. The site states the app is free and requires macOS 10.13 or later.
Use Contrast is a Linux, macOS, BSD, or Unix resource for tools, documentation, communities, or system workflows.
UTM is virtualization software for Mac that runs Windows and Linux and emulates other operating systems. It uses QEMU and Apple's Virtualization framework and emulates processors including ARM32, MIPS, PPC and RISC-V. macOS virtual machines are limited to Apple Silicon Macs running macOS Monterey or later. GPU emulation and 3D acceleration are not supported.
ViennaRSS is a Linux, macOS, BSD, or Unix resource for tools, documentation, communities, or system workflows.
The Wine Application Database (AppDB) provides information on application compatibility with Wine, open source software for running Windows applications on other operating systems. The database lists applications with compatibility information, and membership allows voting on applications, submitting applications and screenshots, and serving as an application maintainer.
xbar is a macOS application that places the output of any executable script or program in the menu bar. It offers hundreds of pre-built plugins across categories such as AWS Cloud, Cryptocurrency, Email, Finance, Network, Weather and Web, and users can write their own plugins in any language. It is described as the BitBar reboot.
