From macOS

This provides information, resources and terminology to help you switch from OS X to Ubuntu. See also the all-systems switching guide.

OS X is an Apple interface wrapped around a Unix core, whereas Ubuntu is a Unix interface wrapped around a Unix core. This makes switching from OS X much easier than switching from Windows, but still quite challenging. For example, the OS X terminal is almost as powerful as the Linux terminal, but you'll need to use far more of that power in Linux.

Installing Software

The most obvious difference between OS X and Ubuntu is when installing software, which is similar to the App Store in OS X Lion and Snow Leopard. In OS X, you usually buy or download programs in .dmg files that may contain .pkg software packages. The Ubuntu equivalent of a .pkg file is a .deb file, although you'll rarely see one in practice.

Ubuntu has a built-in package management system, and it's recommended to install programs from there. See the install software guide for more information.

Programs installed through Ubuntu are guaranteed to work with Ubuntu, and automatically updated when you upgrade to the newest version of Ubuntu.

In the same way that OS X only runs software designed for OS X, applications must be made for Linux to be able to run on Ubuntu. Most Linux software is available for free over the Internet. The following pages feature a small selection of popular applications available for free in Ubuntu:

Linux equivalents for popular Mac OS X software

The Terminal

Linux includes a terminal, very similar to the terminal in OS X. Many Linux guides ask you to run commands in the terminal, which should be available from Applications > Accessories > Terminal. See Using the Terminal for more information.

Dual-Boot

When you are looking to switch to Ubuntu one option that may make the transition a little easier is setting up a dual-boot. In a dual-boot, during the boot process, a menu will appear, allowing you to choose from one of two OS's. This allows you to try out Ubuntu while keeping your OS X installation.

See this Dual-Boot guide to help you decide if this is the best option for you.

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