Haiku OS runs on M1 Macs now

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Haiku on M1 and hardware status

  • Initial assumption was VM-only, but further down it’s confirmed to boot on bare metal M1 hardware.
  • This is described as a major milestone and likely the first bare‑metal Haiku on ARM.
  • Scope is unclear beyond M1: other M‑series chips and iPads are asked about, but not confirmed.

Daily‑driver viability and software ecosystem

  • Several commenters say Haiku is fun, fast, and stable enough for light or experimental use (e.g., coding, photos, basic web, office suite).
  • Others argue it’s not ready as a mainstream daily driver, mainly due to limited modern applications.
  • Ruby and various GNU tools are said to be available via packages; IntelliJ, Emacs, VLC also reported working.
  • A Firefox port exists; support for Zoom, VS Code, Docker, etc. is unclear or doubtful.

Not Linux: expectations and containers

  • Multiple comments stress Haiku is not a Linux distro or Unix clone but an independent C++ OS with some POSIX APIs.
  • Docker is called out as Linux-specific; running Linux containers directly on Haiku is described as fundamentally incompatible.

User experience, performance, and aesthetics

  • Users praise Haiku’s responsiveness and UX; it may benchmark slower than Linux but “feels” faster.
  • Some like the classic, non‑flat UI; others find it dated or visually noisy on HiDPI displays.
  • A flat theme exists for those preferring a more modern look.

Purpose, usefulness, and “capitalist mindset” debate

  • One thread questions why create something “not useful.”
  • Many replies defend hobby OS work as valid for fun, learning, or culture, independent of market utility.
  • This branches into a broader debate about capitalism, culture, and whether everything must have profit‑driven usefulness.

Other notes

  • Comparisons are made with Linux distro choice anxiety and FreeBSD’s strengths/limitations.
  • Some lament Apple’s closed ecosystem and lost jailbreak‑era experimentation; others discuss whether regulation could force more openness.
  • Haiku’s BeOS heritage and long‑term appeal to enthusiasts are repeatedly highlighted.