IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Can you slim macOS down?

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Based on the Hacker News discussion, here are the 4 most prevalent themes of opinion:

1. macOS Offers Hardware and Software Integration That Linux Lacks

Many users choose macOS primarily for the seamless integration between the operating system and high-quality hardware, such as excellent battery life, trackpads, and displays. This is particularly crucial for users reliant on commercial creative software or specific professional workflows not available on Linux.

"I've never personally understood the point of macOS for power users... what does macOS offer a power user that Linux doesn't, and which makes it worth sacrificing the ability to run your machine the way you want?" — jbstack

"Better integration with hardware (and good hardware), energy efficiency, power management... Support from commercial software vendors." — JodieBenitez

"There are power users who like to tinker. And there are people who do a bit of both... For me, battery life and power management – even with the number of services that macOS runs." — nxobject

2. "Just Works" vs. "Tinkering" Defines the User Experience

A core debate centers on the definition of a "power user." Many argue that macOS provides a reliable, out-of-the-box experience that frees up time for actual work, contrasting it with the time-consuming configuration and maintenance often associated with Linux.

"I consider myself a power user. What I don't consider myself is a 'configuration hobbyist'... I used Linux for 10 years and I got tired of updates breaking things and having to edit configuration files just to get the system back to 'normal.'" — chongli

"I've never personally understood the point of macOS for power users... The question pretends that there is a whole group of 'power users' who all do the same thing, but that couldn't be further from the truth." — oneeyedpigeon

"At some age you realize that tinkering with your OS is a giant waste of time. I just want a reliable thing that gets me A to B... Sometimes having less choice is freeing." — turtlebits

3. macOS Has Degraded as a User-Controllable, Open System

A significant portion of the discussion agrees with the original article's premise that modern macOS, with its Signed System Volume (SSV) and System Integrity Protection (SIP), has moved away from the Unix philosophy of user control and customization, making it feel more like a "locked-down" or "bloated" system.

"Instead of forcing iOS onto laptops, they locked down MacOS." — latchkey

"Apple does not allow people using MacOS to modify it... macOS cannot easily be used on a variety of hardware, only on Apple's proprietary hardware." — 1vuio0pswjnm7

"SSV can be disabled. It would be ill-advised to do so, but Apple intentionally allows you to do that... The article is a bit outdated, but it should still be possible to do all of that." — sgjohnson (noting it is possible but comes with significant trade-offs)

4. The "Unix" Label on macOS is a Point of Contention

The technical and philosophical classification of macOS as a "Unix" system sparked a heated debate. While macOS is officially UNIX-certified, many argue that its design philosophy, proprietary nature, and security restrictions diverge significantly from the open and customizable ideals of traditional Unix systems.

"To the Unix purist, this might appear wasteful and unnecessary, but macOS isn’t, and never has been, Unix. It’s a closed-source proprietary operating system..." — tux3 (from the article)

"MacOS is the most UNIXy of the UNIXes... 1. Comparatively heavyweight 2. Proprietary 3. UNIX APIs." — paulddraper

"The point the author is clearly attempting to make is that the idea and system of macOS is not Unix. Even if macOS is, legally speaking, 'UNIX®', it was not made to be UNIX®." — spijdar

🚀 Project Ideas

macOS System Process Disabler

Summary

  • A utility to safely identify, audit, and selectively disable non-critical background daemons/agents in modern macOS without breaking the Signed System Volume.
  • Core value proposition: Provide a user-friendly interface for analyzing process impact and applying lightweight constraints (e.g., CPU limits, network blocking) or safe workarounds, respecting Apple's security model while offering more control than Activity Monitor.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Power users and developers frustrated by unexplainable system resource usage who want more control without disabling core security features like SIP.
Core Feature Scans launchd items, correlates them with user activity, and applies resource constraints or network firewall rules using native macOS APIs and user-space tools.
Tech Stack Swift/SwiftUI, native macOS APIs (EndpointSecurity, NetworkExtension), Homebrew distribution.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium model with basic auditing free, advanced automation and persistent rule sets as a paid tier.

Notes

  • HN commenters frequently cite "buggy" background services like mds_stores or mediaanalysisd consuming CPU unexpectedly. This tool would target those specific pain points by allowing users to set CPU caps or disable specific indexing scopes, rather than deleting system files.
  • High practical utility for users with older hardware or those sensitive to system noise; bridges the gap between Apple's locked-down environment and the Linux-style tinkering many power users miss.

Linux Laptop Configuration Manager

Summary

  • A tool to generate optimized, hardware-aware configuration files for Linux laptops, specifically addressing suspend/resume, battery life, and peripheral compatibility on Apple Silicon or high-end x86 hardware.
  • Core value proposition: Automate the tedious "rice" process for Linux laptops, delivering a reliable out-of-the-box experience that mimics macOS battery efficiency and hardware integration.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Linux enthusiasts who want to use MacBook hardware or high-end x86 laptops but are frustrated by poor battery life, sleep issues, and lack of polish.
Core Feature CLI wizard that detects hardware (e.g., Apple M1/M2/M3, Framework Laptop) and applies curated kernel parameters, systemd units, and power management profiles (TLP, powertop).
Tech Stack Python/Rust, systemd, udev, kernel module configuration.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby (Open Source) with potential for paid support contracts for enterprise deployment.

Notes

  • Directly addresses comments about "terrible standby battery life" on non-Mac laptops and the desire to run Linux on Apple hardware without losing Thunderbolt or DisplayPort functionality.
  • Solves the "tinker vs. work" dichotomy by front-loading the configuration effort into a one-time automated setup, making Linux a viable daily driver for power users who prioritize getting work done.

Cross-Platform Audio/Routing Bridge

Summary

  • A virtual audio driver and middleware layer for macOS that exposes system audio outputs (e.g., monitor speakers via DP) as selectable input devices for other applications.
  • Core value proposition: Restore the "missing" audio control features of macOS, allowing users to route audio from specific apps to specific hardware outputs without third-party mixing software.
Key Value
Target Audience Users frustrated by macOS's inability to control audio output per device or app, specifically mentioned regarding DisplayPort monitor speakers.
Core Feature Kernel extension (or user-space audio server) that creates virtual audio devices mirroring physical outputs, accessible via standard macOS audio APIs.
Tech Stack Core Audio (Swift/C++), possibly using the blackHole or Soundflower open-source foundations.
Difficulty High (due to driver signing and OS updates)
Monetization Hobby/Open Source (requires user to disable SIP for installation, limiting commercial viability).

Notes

  • Addresses the specific user complaint: "being unable to control the audio output of my screen's speakers (connected through DP)."
  • While tools exist, they are often "hit or miss" or require complex setup. A robust, modern, and well-maintained version would fill a significant gap for power users who rely on macOS for creative work but need flexible audio routing.

macOS "Preview" Equivalent for Linux

Summary

  • A lightweight, native Linux file previewer that mimics macOS Preview's speed and dual-functionality for images and PDFs, including basic annotation and page manipulation.
  • Core value proposition: Provide a cohesive, fast, and reliable viewer for mixed media files on Linux, reducing the reliance on heavyweight applications like GIMP or LibreOffice for simple tasks.
Key Value
Target Audience Linux power users who envy macOS's "Preview" app for its seamless integration, speed, and ability to handle PDFs and images in one interface.
Core Feature Tabbed interface for multiple files, PDF page extraction/reordering, basic image annotation, and integration with the Linux desktop environment (GTK/Qt).
Tech Stack C++ or Rust, Qt/GTK, Poppler (for PDF), ImageMagick/libvips (for images).
Difficulty Low/Medium
Monetization Hobby (Open Source) or Revenue-ready: One-time purchase on the Snap/Flatpak store.

Notes

  • Highlighted by a user: "There isn’t any app on windows or linux that can match what Preview does."
  • The app would focus on the specific "power user" needs mentioned: rapid handling of large PDFs, easy page manipulation, and staying out of the way. It targets the frustration of having to open heavy software for basic file manipulation.

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