# corpnewt/gibMacOS

Py2/py3 script that can download macOS components direct from Apple

Repository: https://github.com/corpnewt/gibMacOS
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/gibmacos
Language: Python
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Last push: 2026-06-18T11:38:52+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 72/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 88, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2898, "days_push": 76, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 7243, forks 923 (observed 2026-08-28T04:09:57.740825+00:00)

## What it is
A Python 2/3 command-line script that downloads macOS installer components directly from Apple's software catalog. It can also build Internet Recovery USB installers for macOS versions up through Catalina on Windows.

## Use cases
- download macOS installer packages directly from Apple servers
- create a macOS Internet Recovery USB installer from Windows
- fetch official macOS installers without the App Store
- get a legit copy of macOS for a Hackintosh build
- download InstallAssistant.pkg for macOS Big Sur and later

## When to choose
- you need to download macOS installers on non-Mac hardware or without an Apple ID
- you want to build a recovery USB from Windows for Catalina or earlier
- you need scriptable, direct access to Apple's macOS software catalog

## When to avoid
- you need to build a Big Sur or newer recovery USB on Windows - Apple changed the distribution format
- you just want to upgrade an existing Mac - use Software Update or the App Store instead

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: cli, developer-tools, file-system
- domain: apple-ecosystem, developer-tools
- platform: windows, python, cli, cross-platform
- tags: macos-installer, apple-catalog, recovery-usb, hackintosh, download-tool, command-line, automation, macos, linux

## Member repositories
- corpnewt/gibMacOS (main) score 72

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:09:57.740825+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:39:44.661762+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/corpnewt/gibMacOS (fetched 2026-08-28T04:09:57.740825+00:00, sha 77cf396a2009)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.