# XQuartz/XQuartz

An X11 server and client libraries for macOS

Repository: https://github.com/XQuartz/XQuartz
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/xquartz
Homepage: http://www.xquartz.org
Language: Shell
License Family: other
Topics: x11, macos
Last push: 2026-08-18T14:51:02+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 85/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 98, release rhythm 61, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2578, "days_push": 15, "days_rel": 50, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 1}
- flags: no_license, no_readme
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1059, forks 80 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:25.624734+00:00)

## What it is
XQuartz is an open-source port of the X.Org X Window System (X11 server and client libraries) for macOS. It provides the X11.app that Apple originally shipped with OS X 10.5 through 10.7 and continues to be maintained for modern macOS versions.

## Use cases
- run X11 graphical applications on macOS
- forward X11 apps from a remote Linux server to a Mac
- install an X server needed by tools like Wireshark or Inkscape on macOS
- replace Apple's removed X11.app on modern macOS
- run legacy Unix GUI software on a Mac

## When to choose
- you need to run or display X11-based applications on macOS
- you need X11 forwarding over SSH from remote Unix servers
- a macOS application depends on an X server being installed

## When to avoid
- you only need native macOS applications with no X11 dependencies
- you want a modern Wayland-based display stack
- you are on Linux or Windows where native X servers exist

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: gui, developer-tools
- domain: apple-ecosystem, cross-platform, developer-tools
- platform: -
- tags: x11, xorg, window-system, remote-display, macos

## Member repositories
- XQuartz/XQuartz (main) score 85

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:25.624734+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 2026-08-30T06:57:05.715281+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - homepage: http://www.xquartz.org (fetched 2026-08-29T12:58:52.565260+00:00, sha 28cb2c743ee5)
  - site_page: https://www.xquartz.org/releases/index.html (fetched 2026-08-29T12:58:52.575066+00:00, sha 289d43322bb5)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.