Advanced Mac Substitute: API-level reimplementation of classic Mac OS

https://www.v68k.org/advanced-mac-substitute/

Advanced Mac Substitute

Advanced Mac Substitute is an API-level reimplementation of classic Mac OS. It runs 68K Mac applications in an emulator without an Apple ROM or system software.

The white-on-black title screen of the prologue cinematic from The Fool’s Errand

The same title, but with a rain-against-the-camera-lens effect.

The opening of the prologue cinematic from The Fool’s Errand running in Advanced Mac Substitute

Amazing, a maze-tracing game by Steve Capps

When you solve the maze, a picture appears of a penguin blowing a triumphant note on a bugle.

Amazing running in Advanced Mac Substitute (point to see the solved maze)

Unlike traditional emulators, Advanced Mac Substitute doesn’t emulate the hardware on which an operating system runs (except for the 680x0 processor), but actually replaces the OS — so it launches directly into an application, without a startup phase.

A parody of the Macintosh loading screen.

Welcome to Advanced Mac Substitute.

(This is an application, not a real loading screen.)

Advanced Mac Substitute is a factored application. The backend includes a 68K emulator and should build and run on any POSIX-like system. The frontend is a generic bitmapped terminal abstraction which has been ported to four platforms so far: classic Mac OS, Mac OS X, Linux framebuffer, and Android.

Mac Solitaire running in AMS on an Android phone

Solitaire running in Advanced Mac Substitute on an Android phone

Advanced Mac Substitute is capable of running several applications written for the original Macintosh computer. Examples include four games from 1984: Amazing, Solitaire, Missile, and IAGO.

Missile, a Missile Command clone for Macintosh from 1984

Another incoming ICBM is destroyed, yet many more remain — including a MIRV warhead

Missile running in Advanced Mac Substitute (point to see the next frame)

IAGO, an Othello game for Macintosh from 1984

Game over: White has beaten Black, 48-16

IAGO running in Advanced Mac Substitute (point to see who won)

Current support includes 1-bit-deep graphics, regions, circles and roundrects, lines, cursors, GrafPorts, text, windows, controls, menus, dialogs, and more.

Source

Source code for Advanced Mac Substitute is on GitHub.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try out Advanced Mac Substitute on Mac OS X (versions from 10.4 through 10.12, at least) or Linux framebuffer.

Still image of monochrome nyancat using patterns instead of colors

Animation of monochrome nyancat using patterns instead of colors

NyanCat running in Advanced Mac Substitute (point to animate)

(Older documentation has moved while revision is under way.)