computers:macrosetta

Running Java based x86_64 arch apps on ARM based Macs

One of the biggest issues I've run into with my work Mac is running some open source tools such as Apache Directory Studio and Eclipse Memory Analyzer Tool to aid in my day to day work. While Eclipse now has an ARM-based package, the Directory Studio still does not. This is where Rosetta2 is supposed to help even things out. Rosetta translates the x86_64 arch binary to ARM, so that the M series Macs can utilize it. This comes with a small performance loss since it is not native arch, but it gets the job done.  

The caveat with using Rosetta is, that is translating your app, but if your app also requires Java, that too also needs to be on the same architecture to properly run. This means, if you installed brew, by default it installs on your native arch which means compiling on an ARM based Mac, you need to either install brew via x86 arch (and really fudge your OS since the x86 version installs to /usr) or, you download the binary separate and install the x86 version. Rosetta2 will help translate that for you.

Even though I have the option to use the Memory Analyzer Tool in ARM, I installed the x86 version to keep to one version of Java

  • computers/macrosetta.txt
  • Last modified: 2024/03/28 13:30
  • by jon