Run Pythagoras on a Mac

Pythagoras is an application developed for Windows OS. This means that Pythagoras cannot run natively on an Apple Mac device. 

Using Boot Camp or Windows virtualization applications, you can run Pythagoras on an Apple Mac device with an Intel processor.

UPDATE 2020-09-09: Apple will cease the production and support of Intel based Apple Mac devices and will move to ARM processors. This will influence the use of Windows on a Mac. It is still uncertain what the future will bring and how the use of Windows OS will be supported on newer ARM based Apple devices.

UPDATE 2021-01-12: Several virtualization applications are working on new applications to run Windows on the new Apple computers with ARM processors:

Parallels Desktop: https://www.parallels.com/blogs/parallels-desktop-apple-silicon-mac/

Boot Camp (Recommended solution)

Boot Camp lets you install Windows on a Mac with the Boot Camp Assistant. 

The following thread guides you to an article on how to do this:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201468

If you need help with the installation of Windows 10 and Boot Camp, please contact your local Apple dealer.

Boot Camp gives the best Windows-on-a-Mac experience. Boot Camp provides the best OpenGL support and performance because your Mac device is launched as a Windows device. 

If you want to launch the Mac device using MacOS, you will need to restart your device.

Virtualization applications

Virtualization applications make it possible to run Windows OS on an Apple Mac device as a separate application. 

This means that you launch your Apple Mac device using MacOS and launch a virtualization application that runs Windows OS. 

Parallels Desktop and VMware are two virtualization application that do just that.

As this might seems the perfect way to run Pythagoras on a Mac, there are some limitations to be expected that can influence the performant use of Pythagoras:

• Limited OpenGL support.
• Different behavior in menu structure.
• Performance issues caused by simultaneous Mac OS and Windows OS use.

The responsibility of fluent and performant use of Pythagoras in these virtualization applications lies with the developers of these applications.

If the experience and performance is not equal to what is experienced and expected on a native Windows OS device, the responsibility lies with these companies.

At Pythagoras BV with strive to provide the best Pythagoras experience on native Windows OS devices and Pythagoras software is evaluated and tested as such by our R&D and testing team.

VMware Fusion

UPDATE 2020-09-21: latest tested version is 12.0.0 (16880131)

UPDATE 2020-09-21: recommended for Pythagoras 2D use

More information about this application can be found on the following website:

https://www.vmware.com/products/fusion.html

Known limitations and issues in the latest version:

• Limited OpenGL support - Makes the Pythagoras 3D window unavailable.
• Lesser performance caused by simultaneous Windows OS and Mac OS use.

Parallels Desktop

UPDATE 2020-09-09: latest tested version is 16.0.0 (48916)

UPDATE 2020-09-09: NOT RECOMMENDED

More information about this application can be found on the following website:

https://www.parallels.com/eu/

Known limitations and issues in the latest version:

• Disappearing menu structures in Pythagoras 2D window.
• Limited OpenGL support - Makes the Pythagoras 3D window unavailable.
• Lesser performance caused by simultaneous Windows OS and Mac OS use.