# geerlingguy/macos-virtualbox-vm

Instructions and script to help you create a VirtualBox VM running macOS.

Repository: https://github.com/geerlingguy/macos-virtualbox-vm
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/macos-virtualbox-vm
Language: Shell
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: shell-script, macos, mac, virtualbox, vm, virtual-machine, box
Last push: 2022-03-14T20:43:04+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 32/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4164, "days_push": 1633, "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 2577, forks 307 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:02.247255+00:00)

## What it is
A shell script and set of instructions for creating a bootable macOS installer ISO and running macOS in a VirtualBox virtual machine. It automates converting a macOS installer app downloaded from the Mac App Store into an ISO usable by VirtualBox.

## Use cases
- create a macOS virtual machine in VirtualBox
- build a bootable macOS installer ISO from the App Store installer
- run macOS on Linux or Windows for testing
- set up a disposable macOS environment for CI or development
- test software on multiple macOS versions without extra hardware

## When to choose
- you need macOS in a VM on non-Apple hardware or a secondary machine
- you want a scripted, repeatable way to prepare macOS installer ISOs
- you are already using VirtualBox and want step-by-step VM setup guidance

## When to avoid
- you need a supported, licensed macOS virtualization solution on Apple hardware (use UTM, Parallels, or VMware)
- you need recent macOS versions - the instructions target older releases (Yosemite through Big Sur era)
- you want a fully automated provisioning tool rather than manual VM setup steps

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: maintenance
- function: developer-tools, cli, simulation
- domain: developer-tools, operating-systems
- platform: cli
- tags: virtualbox, macos-vm, shell-script, virtualization, iso-preparation, macos

## Member repositories
- geerlingguy/macos-virtualbox-vm (main) score 32

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:02.247255+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 2026-08-30T02:22:41.863453+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/geerlingguy/macos-virtualbox-vm (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:02.247255+00:00, sha a5a8ba209505)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.