Cocoa-Way

Cocoa‑Way is a native macOS Wayland compositor that lets Linux graphical applications run directly on a Mac without using a virtual machine. It receives Wayland protocol data over Unix sockets—typically via the companion waypipe‑darwin tool—and renders the output with Apple’s Metal graphics API, providing low‑latency, hardware‑accelerated display that integrates with macOS window management, including server‑side decorations, shadows, and focus indicators. The compositor supports HiDPI scaling for Retina displays and works with standard macOS installations, available through Homebrew, downloadable binaries, or source builds.

The software targets developers and power users who need to run Linux GUI tools on macOS while preserving native look‑and‑feel and performance. By avoiding full‑system virtualization, it reduces overhead and simplifies the workflow: users start Cocoa‑Way, connect a Linux host via SSH, and launch applications such as browsers or editors, which appear as regular macOS windows.

Key distinguishing aspects are its Metal‑based rendering pipeline, direct Wayland protocol handling through sockets, and seamless integration with macOS windowing, all packaged as an open‑source, GPL‑3.0‑licensed project that is stable and ready for everyday use.