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webcamoid / webcamoid

Webcamoid is a full featured and multiplatform webcam suite.
https://webcamoid.github.io/
GNU General Public License v3.0
2.28k stars 246 forks source link

About MacOS support #667

Open hipersayanX opened 1 year ago

hipersayanX commented 1 year ago

About giving support to future MacOS versions, I've some things to say...

I will be clear, I will try to give MacOS support as long as possible, but at this point I still working with Mac Catalina that is the latest working version for me and can't test newer versions because none of them works, forget about buying a Mac because it's out of budget.

I will start migrating native MacOS code to third-party libraries, so for example instead of having a specific plugin for CoreAudio, it will delegate the work to SDL or PortAudio.

Advantages

Disadvantages

This changes could give a bit more time to Webcamoid in Mac, but do not expect to last long. You know what to do, step-up or let it die.

Hanzzsz commented 1 year ago

Any webcamoid version for MAC High Sierra 10.13?

hipersayanX commented 1 year ago

@Hanzzsz Any of the old versions maybe, but those versions doesn't have any kind of support.

hipersayanX commented 1 year ago

I've made all changes. I've switched from giving Mac specific support to 3rd party libraries that offers more or less the same functionality.

CoreAudio -> PortAudio and SDL
AVFoundation -> FFmpeg (Screen capture)
AVFoundation -> QCamera (Camera capture)

This way it will make much easier for me to maintain the code. I'll keep maintaining the virtual camera since it just need Cmake and Clang to compile and shares code with the Windows virtual camera, so not big deal.

hipersayanX commented 1 year ago

Maintainers for MacOS are welcome

As news says and many users reported me, Apple has enforced code signing for apps working with it's ARM processors, so for me it make no sense to release pre-compiled binaries anymore, therefore since Webcamoid 9.1 and forward you will have to compile it from source code or install it from homebrew. Also, the current Webcamoid package in homebrew is just a Cask that install the pre-compiled binaries, that formulae will need to be rewritten to compile straight from sources. The formulae is currently maintained by @miccal but I haven't any contact with him, and not sure if he want to keep maintaining it. In resume, I need people to maintain Webcamoid's code and homebrew packages for Mac.

lalaRLH commented 2 months ago

Have you considered a little hackintosh eg I have a HP Elitedesk 800 G2 35w miniPC. Most are intel wifi, but some are not, so just double check it's got intel card if you want to use wifi / bluetooth.

I have compiled in full all drivers etc (kexts etc) required for it, and it runs latest macOS. The unit validates with apple for iServices and runs everything fine other than sleep (due to macOS not supporting the same sleep modes as the HP BIOS / firmware aimed at windows). Else, you have a great little box - it's really a Mac mini. They sell anywhere from 50 to 100 bucks on eBay. I use it over my Mac mini as it's faster (due to better ssd etc I'd assume). I'd happily share with you the EFI (where drivers etc are loaded from - a little partition of 200 or so mb), and even walk you through it as required. The hardest bit is generating a bootable USB but that's easier now given you can generate online installers via Windows (eg it's only approx 500mb and then downloads macOS Sonoma via wifi and installs).

How are you running the current macOS? Is it virtualised? Sonoma works on VMware Workstation, which is free now via Broadcom. You need to either use an Unlocker that "unhides" the hidden macOS menus, or manually amend it. Then you're away.

I want to volunteer but legit I am swamped. I just know I'd be unreliable in the longer term.

hipersayanX commented 2 months ago

Have you considered a little hackintosh eg I have a HP Elitedesk 800 G2 35w miniPC. Most are intel wifi, but some are not, so just double check it's got intel card if you want to use wifi / bluetooth.

Yes, but I haven't not money for buying a new PC right now, not even a PC capable of running MacOs. Payhip income is just enough to pay bills and a bit more, and a very few people have ever donated, and only one person have donated 25$ for MacOs support.

How are you running the current macOS? Is it virtualised? Sonoma works on VMware Workstation, which is free now via Broadcom. You need to either use an Unlocker that "unhides" the hidden macOS menus, or manually amend it. Then you're away.

I was running MacOs in VirtualBox, and it was working more or less fine until (if I remember) Monterrey, then I was not able to install newer versions any more. Now, the PC in which I was working is working is broken (probably need reballing, not sure), and now I'm using a much older computer without virtualization support. And there are still people who thing I must give my work for free.

I want to volunteer but legit I am swamped. I just know I'd be unreliable in the longer term.

  • people need to figure out how to type a string into command line, plenty of apps are not notarised etc and arm users run the apps. Anyway, it's not worth the headache / education piece to be accused of being the latest and greatest info stealer :)

MacOs binaries are right now being uploaded to the private repository, all sponsors can get access to it.

AnaJuliaCodes commented 1 month ago

Can't you just make prebuilt binaries free like any other person would do?

hipersayanX commented 1 month ago

@AnaJuliaCodes people download the program, < 1% of the people who downloaded the program informs about any bug, the rest just try and discard :man_shrugging: Also,

  1. I need money for living
  2. With monetary support I can buy new hardware for, for example, buying a Mac for testing it my self.
  3. Paying $2 for having access to the private repository is not to much and Mac users can afford that without any problem.