# Darwine

> Wine libraries to Darwin and Mac OS X

**Wikidata**: [Q1136233](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1136233)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwine)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/darwine

## Summary
Darwine is a free software project that provides Wine libraries for Darwin and Mac OS X, enabling the execution of Windows applications on macOS. It functions as a compatibility layer and is based on the original Wine implementation. Darwine is also known by the alias Winebottler.

## Key Facts
- Instance of: Free software
- Named after: Darwin (Apple's core OS layer) and Wine (the Windows compatibility layer)
- License: GNU General Public License and GNU Lesser General Public License
- Programming Language: Objective-C
- Depends on Software: Wine
- Websites:  
  - http://winebottler.kronenberg.org/  
  - http://darwine.sourceforge.net/
- Aliases: Winebottler, Darwine
- SourceForge Project: darwine
- Open Hub ID: darwine
- Freebase ID: /m/033kd1
- Sitelink Count: 7
- Wikipedia Languages: de, en, fr, ja, ko, pl, sv
- Copyright Status: Copyrighted

## FAQs
### Q: What is Darwine used for?
A: Darwine enables the execution of Windows applications on macOS by providing Wine libraries tailored for Darwin and Mac OS X. It acts as a compatibility layer between Windows software and the macOS environment.

### Q: Is Darwine free to use?
A: Yes, Darwine is distributed as free software under the GNU General Public License and GNU Lesser General Public License, allowing users to run, modify, and redistribute it.

### Q: How is Darwine related to Wine?
A: Darwine is built upon Wine, utilizing its core functionality to bring Windows application support to macOS. It extends Wine’s capabilities specifically for the Darwin-based macOS architecture.

## Why It Matters
Darwine plays a significant role in cross-platform software compatibility by bridging the gap between Windows applications and macOS systems. As a derivative of Wine, it allows users to run Windows programs without needing a Windows operating system, which is particularly valuable for developers, testers, and users reliant on legacy Windows software. By targeting Darwin—the core of macOS—Darwine ensures better integration with Apple’s ecosystem. Its availability under free software licenses also encourages community development and transparency, contributing to the broader open-source movement.

## Notable For
- Being one of the few projects bringing Wine compatibility specifically to Darwin/macOS
- Dual licensing under both GPL and LGPL, offering flexibility in usage and modification
- Integration with Objective-C, aligning with native macOS development practices
- Providing an alternative distribution method through the alias Winebottler
- Hosting on major open-source platforms like SourceForge and Open Hub

## Body

### Overview
Darwine is a specialized variant of Wine designed to operate on Darwin and Mac OS X. It serves as a compatibility layer that translates Windows API calls into POSIX-compliant equivalents usable by macOS. This allows many Windows applications to run natively on Apple hardware without requiring virtualization or dual-boot setups.

### Technical Details
- **Use**: Compatibility layer for running Windows applications on macOS
- **Depends On**: Wine (core engine)
- **Programming Language**: Objective-C, reflecting alignment with macOS-native development tools
- **Architecture Support**: Tailored for Darwin kernel and macOS environments

### Licensing and Distribution
Darwine is released under two main licenses:
- GNU General Public License (GPL)
- GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)

These licenses ensure that the software remains open and modifiable while allowing for broader integration in proprietary projects when using the LGPL version.

### Project Presence
- Hosted on SourceForge as `darwine`
- Maintained presence on Open Hub with ID `darwine`
- Cross-referenced via Freebase ID `/m/033kd1`

### Related Projects and Aliases
- Also known as **Winebottler**, indicating a packaging or distribution approach aimed at simplifying deployment
- Inherits naming conventions from **Darwin** (Apple's core OS) and **Wine** (Windows emulator)

### Community and Documentation
- Available across multiple language editions of Wikipedia: German, English, French, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Swedish
- Website resources provide access to downloads and documentation:
  - http://winebottler.kronenberg.org/
  - http://darwine.sourceforge.net/

This structured approach makes Darwine accessible to international audiences and supports collaborative development within global open-source communities.

## References

1. [The darwine Open Source Project on Open Hub: Licenses Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/darwine/licenses)
2. [The darwine Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/darwine/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013