OrionOS/iso/mac-install-notes.md

Installing SkyOS on an Intel Mac

Before you start

• Intel Mac (any MacBook/MacBook Pro with Intel CPU — 2006–2020)
• USB drive ≥ 4 GB
• The SkyOS ISO

Step 1 — Boot from USB

Intel Macs use EFI + rEFInd (included in the ISO) to boot Linux.

1. Hold Option (⌥) at startup to see the boot picker.
2. Select the SkyOS USB drive (shows as "EFI Boot").

Step 2 — Partition the disk

In the live environment, run cfdisk /dev/sda (replace with your disk):

Partition	Size	Type	Mount
sda1	512 MB	EFI System	/boot/efi
sda2	4 GB	Linux swap	swap
sda3	remainder	Linux filesystem	/

Format:

mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sda1
mkswap /dev/sda2
mkfs.ext4 -L SkyOS /dev/sda3

Step 3 — Install

mount /dev/sda3 /mnt
mkdir -p /mnt/boot/efi
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot/efi
swapon /dev/sda2

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware ...  # (handled by build-base.sh)
genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab

Step 4 — rEFInd for Mac EFI

Intel Macs need rEFInd instead of GRUB for reliable EFI booting:

arch-chroot /mnt
refind-install

rEFInd auto-detects the kernel; our config at /boot/EFI/refind/refind.conf points it at the right initramfs.

Step 5 — First boot

Log in as sky (password: skyos — change it!), then:

startx

The SkyWM desktop launches with the Deskbar in the top-right corner.

Intel Mac hardware notes

Hardware	Status	Notes
WiFi (Broadcom)	Works	broadcom-wl-dkms DKMS driver
Intel iGPU	Works	xf86-video-intel or modesetting
Discrete GPU	Partial	AMD: works; Nvidia: use nouveau
Trackpad	Works	xf86-input-libinput with gestures
Audio	Works	alsa-utils + snd_hda_intel
Suspend/Resume	Mostly	echo mem > /sys/power/state
Keyboard backlit	Works	/sys/class/leds/ brightness control
Webcam	Works	UVC driver built into kernel
Thunderbolt	Partial	TB1/2: limited; TB3+: better