Tart builds, runs, and manages macOS and Linux virtual machines, with remote storage and integrations such as GitHub and GitLab.
Tart
Tart builds, runs, and manages macOS and Linux virtual machines on Apple Silicon for CI and other automation.
About Tart
Tart is a virtualization toolset to build, run and manage macOS and Linux virtual machines on Apple Silicon for CI and other automation. It uses Apple's Virtualization.Framework, supports pushing and pulling VMs from OCI-compatible container registries, and provides a Packer plugin for automating VM creation with integration for CI systems.
It requires an Apple Silicon device running macOS 13.0 or later, and the example macOS image download is 25 GB.
Key features
- Build, run and manage macOS and Linux virtual machines
- Uses Apple's Virtualization.Framework
- Push and pull VMs from OCI-compatible container registries
- Automate VM creation with Tart Packer Plugin
- Integrates with CI systems for automation
Best for: CI engineers and teams automating macOS and Linux VMs on Apple Silicon.
Good for
- Uses Apple's Virtualization.Framework
- Supports macOS and Linux VMs on Apple Silicon
- Can share VMs via OCI-compatible container registries
Watch out for
- Requires Apple Silicon device running macOS 13.0 or later
- Example macOS image download is 25 GB
Tart at a glance
- Website
- github.com/cirruslabs/tart
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Linux Apps
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Tart alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
UTM runs virtual machines on Mac, including operating systems on Apple Silicon and Intel hardware.
Genymotion Desktop runs Android emulators on Windows and macOS, with builds for Intel and Apple Silicon computers.
PeaZip is an open-source archive manager app for macOS and Darwin that creates, opens and extracts common archive formats, with builds for Apple Silicon and Intel.
FreeOpen source
14 alternatives
OrbStack runs containers and Linux virtual machines on macOS, according to its product page.
linux-router turns a Linux computer into a router, supporting internet sharing, Wi-Fi hotspots, IPv6, and virtual machines or containers.
Open source
24 alternativesPopular in Linux Apps
Well-known listings from the same topic.
AltBoxaltbox.devThe Levelatorarchive.org/details/conversationsnetwork_org-l…Alacrittyalacritty.orgShellScriptshellscript.shghostwriterghostwriter.kde.orgLibrebootlibreboot.org
Tart FAQ
What is required to run Tart?
An Apple Silicon device running macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later.
How do I run the example VM?
Install with brew, then run tart clone ghcr.io/cirruslabs/macos-tahoe-base:latest tahoe-base followed by tart run tahoe-base.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
Own this website?
Claim this listing
Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.