If you have an old Nintendo Wii gathering dust in storage, developer Bryan Keller has come up with a clever new use for it: running a classic version of Mac OS X.
It’s not as simple as simply loading Mac OS X on the Wii and running it. Keller had to make several modifications to the version of Mac OS X that he used, including writing a bootloader, patching the Mac OS X kernel, and creating custom drivers. But in the end, he was able to get Mac OS X Cheetah (the very first version of Mac OS X, originally released 25 years ago) running on the Wii.
In a blog post about his project, Keller covers the details involved, including the Wii’s hardware specifications, the obstacles he encountered, and how he overcame them. For example, when figuring out how to get the Wii to boot Mac OS X, Keller decided to write a bootloader rather than port two other methods. Another challenge involved writing drivers for the Wii’s Hollywood chip, which handles the GPU, USB, and more.
Even if you’re not a developer or interested in making Mac OS X run on a Wii, Keller’s blog post is an intriguing look at how a project develops and how to find solutions to the problems that occur. Keller also has a site on GitHub with all the info you need if you’re feeling inspired and want to try it out for yourself.
