VirtualBuddy

{
  "alternatives": [
    "UTM",
    "Parallels Desktop",
    "VMware Fusion"
  ],
  "artifacts": [
    {
      "app": [
        "VirtualBuddy.app"
      ],
      "target": "/Applications/VirtualBuddy.app"
    },
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      "binary": [
        "$APPDIR/VirtualBuddy.app/Contents/MacOS/vctool",
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          "target": "vctool"
        }
      ],
      "target": "$HOMEBREW_PREFIX/bin/vctool"
    },
    {
      "zap": [
        {
          "trash": [
            "~/Library/Application Support/VirtualBuddy",
            "~/Library/Caches/codes.rambo.VirtualBuddy",
            "~/Library/Caches/VirtualBuddy",
            "~/Library/HTTPStorages/codes.rambo.VirtualBuddy",
            "~/Library/Preferences/codes.rambo.VirtualBuddy.plist"
          ]
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  ],
  "auto_updates": 1,
  "categories": [
    "virtualization",
    "dev-tools"
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  "deprecated": 0,
  "deprecation_reason": null,
  "desc": "Virtualization tool",
  "disable_reason": null,
  "disabled": 0,
  "display_name": "VirtualBuddy",
  "enrichment_fetched_at": "2026-06-20T22:50:59+00:00",
  "first_seen": "2026-06-20T00:47:34+00:00",
  "full_token": "virtualbuddy",
  "github_default_branch": "main",
  "github_last_commit_at": "2026-06-19T14:38:10Z",
  "github_readme_excerpt": "\u003cimg src=\"./assets/VirtualBuddyIcon.png\" width=\"128\" /\u003e\n\n# VirtualBuddy\n\nVirtualBuddy can virtualize macOS 12 and later on Apple Silicon, with the goal of offering features that are useful to developers who need to test their apps on multiple versions of macOS, especially betas.\n\n![](./assets/Showcase.jpg)\n\n## System Requirements\n\n- **Apple Silicon Mac**\n- macOS 13 or later\n\n### Installing macOS\n\nTo install a macOS virtual machine, you can select from a list of macOS versions provided by VirtualBuddy, which will automatically download and install the selected version. You may also provide your own IPSW link or select from an IPSW you have already downloaded.\n\n### \u26a0\ufe0f Important Note About macOS Golden Gate\n\nTo install macOS Golden Gate beta on a macOS 26 host, make sure you are running [VirtualBuddy 2.2 beta 2](https://github.com/insidegui/VirtualBuddy/releases/tag/2.2-b2) or later and that you have downloaded and installed the [latest device support files](https://developer.apple.com/services-account/download?path=/Developer_Tools/RaveMobileDeviceSeed2050A3n/DeviceSupport_macOS_27_beta.dmg) from Apple. If you already have the Xcode 27 beta installed, then you don\u0027t need to install the device support files separately.\n\n### Installing macOS Betas\n\nIf you\u2019d like to run a virtual machine with a macOS beta that\u2019s more recent than the one you\u2019re currently running, such as a macOS 15 virtual machine running in a macOS 14 host, then you\u2019ll need the latest device support package from Apple. \n\nDevice support packages are sometimes made available by Apple directly, but they\u2019re always included and installed automatically with the latest Xcode beta. These can be obtained from the [Apple Developer portal](https://developer.apple.com/download).\n\n![Screenshot of the Apple Developer device support download](./assets/DeviceSupport.png)\n\n## Download\n\nVirtualBuddy is free and open-source. If you\u2019d like to support its development, [you may purchase it on Gumroad](https://insidegui.gumroa",
  "github_repo": "insidegui/VirtualBuddy",
  "github_stars": 8224,
  "github_topics": [
    "macos",
    "virtual-machine"
  ],
  "homepage": "https://github.com/insidegui/VirtualBuddy",
  "homepage_og_description": null,
  "homepage_og_image": null,
  "homepage_title": null,
  "installs_30d": 239,
  "installs_365d": 2055,
  "installs_90d": 574,
  "last_seen": "2026-06-20T00:47:34+00:00",
  "llm_generated_at": "2026-06-20T23:05:37+00:00",
  "llm_model": "claude-haiku-4-5",
  "names": [
    "VirtualBuddy"
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  "one_liner": "Create and manage macOS virtual machines on Apple Silicon Macs for testing apps across multiple versions.",
  "rank_30d": 802,
  "rank_365d": 960,
  "rank_90d": 945,
  "raw_hash": "fa5f7f117722e3b5",
  "ruby_source_path": "Casks/v/virtualbuddy.rb",
  "tap": "homebrew/cask",
  "token": "virtualbuddy",
  "version": "2.1,325",
  "why_use_this": "Open-source tool built specifically for Apple Silicon developers who need to test on multiple macOS versions and betas without cluttering their host system. Handles automatic IPSW downloads and streamlines VM setup, which is particularly useful for beta testing before release."
}