VirtualBuddy

VirtualBuddy is a graphical virtual-machine tool for Apple Silicon Macs, aimed in part at developers who want to test software across macOS versions, including betas. This Homebrew entry installs the beta cask virtualbuddy@beta, rather than the regular virtualbuddy cask.

• Its installation wizard can download and install a selected macOS version from available restore images, or use an IPSW file or custom IPSW URL.
• It can run some ARM-based Linux distributions, with installation options including a local ISO file or a URL.
• Virtual machines support networking, file sharing, clipboard sharing, configurable virtual hardware, and saving and restoring macOS VM state.
• The app can boot a VM into recovery mode. Shared-folder options depend on the host and guest setup; direct configuration in VirtualBuddy is available when both run macOS 13 or later.

Install with brew install --cask virtualbuddy@beta. The cask requires a 64-bit ARM Mac and macOS 14 or later, and conflicts with the regular virtualbuddy cask. The project describes virtualization of macOS 12 and later on Apple Silicon, but the installed app's host requirement is macOS 14 or later. To run a macOS beta newer than the host, the project notes that Apple's latest device support package may be required.

Project details · Homebrew beta cask