macOS IS NOT Linux!

macOS is based on Darwin which in turn uses the Mach Kernel and inherits from BSD Unix 4.3.

Linux is a UNIX-like kernel not directly related to ANY Unix.

Also Linux IS NOT an Operating System! It's just the CORE component of one.
Thats why there are SOOOO MANY 'Linux Distributions' that base upon the Linux Kernel.

But are they similar?

• Yes. Linux is a UNIX-like/clone and macOS is UNIX based. This means they share many of the same core concepts in their design.
• No. Linux-Distributions and macOS have different programming libraries. These differ greatly! They even differ between Linux-Distributions!
  Linux Applications made with GNU cant run on MUSL-only systems, and the other way around too!
• No. Linux uses the ELF format for executables and macOS uses the Mach-O format for executables. This also prevents applications from running.
• Nyes? The de-facto programming languages differ. Linux has C and C++; macOS has Objective-C and Swift. (Yes, you could use each language on the other system.)

1.5 Points for YES. 2.5 Points for NO
(Nyes count .5 points for each)

ABI?
API?

Disagree or want to add something? Write us to [email protected]

Here is a image from Wikipedia with the history of Unix and Unix-Like:

Click the image or here to see it on Wikipedia, there you will also find the License, Copyright and Author information.

• is macOS based on Linux
• is macOS the same as Linux
• can Linux run macOS apps
• can macOS run Linux apps
• is macos linux
• is linux macos
• does apple own linux
• do mac run linux
• is linux a unix
• is linux a operating system

• Itsn it GNU/Linux? No. Not very Distribution uses the GNU Userland. See Alpine Linux, Void Linux musl or Android. Also, call it 'GNU on Linux' will ya?
• iOS is Linux? No. iOS inherits from macOS and is thus a UNIX derivative
• Android and iOS are Darwin based! No. Android uses the Linux Kernel, it is a custom Linux Distribution