A macOS-like Desktop for BSD? GhostBSD Unveils the Gershwin Environment

GhostBSD has unveiled an updated release, version 25.02-R14.3p2. Built upon FreeBSD 14.3, this iteration delivers bug fixes and refinements aimed at enhancing both stability and overall user experience.

The most notable innovation is the introduction of the Gershwin desktop environment in its experimental form, designed for those who favor an interface reminiscent of macOS. Gershwin is based on the GNUstep project, which is compatible with Objective-C and the Cocoa framework, thereby enabling the development of applications in the macOS style.

At present, Gershwin relies on the XFCE4-WM window manager, though developers have not ruled out the creation of a bespoke manager in the future. Support for the Wayland display server remains limited, as its implementation in GNUstep is still experimental, meaning the project has no immediate plans to transition fully to Wayland.

The GhostBSD update incorporates all the improvements introduced in FreeBSD 14.3-RELEASE, further supplemented with its own fixes, particularly in system utilities and application integration within the desktop environment.

Further details on the new release are available at the official website, GhostBSD.org, while the Gershwin source code can be found on GitHub.

The arrival of Gershwin in GhostBSD evokes parallels with the helloSystem project, which likewise sought to deliver a macOS-like environment for BSD. However, helloSystem has not been actively maintained—the last build was released in February 2024, and development activity has since dwindled.

In this light, GhostBSD represents yet another endeavor to provide BSD users with a desktop experience styled after macOS, but grounded in an actively maintained and evolving system.