February 23, 2026
Rosetta meets Linux—pass the popcorn
AI-powered reverse-engineering of Rosetta 2 for Linux
Hackers crack Apple’s app translator for Linux; commenters ask: does it even run
TLDR: Hackers are using AI to peel back parts of Apple’s Rosetta 2, aiming to bring its app‑translating magic to Linux. Commenters are split between excitement and skepticism, asking if it actually runs today and whether it can escape Apple’s own Linux‑in‑a‑VM setup—potentially huge if it works anywhere.
Internet sleuths are poking at Apple’s secret sauce: Rosetta 2, the magic translator that lets old PC apps run on new Apple chips. A new repo claims AI‑assisted reverse‑engineering of pieces tied to encryption math, hinting at a future where Rosetta’s powers jump to Linux. The crowd? Instantly divided and very loud. One camp is pure hype, with a Star Wars‑meets‑LAN‑party cheer: “This is the way. Gl; hf.” Another is hammering the brakes: “what makes it ‘for Linux’?” If you’re not deep in the weeds: Rosetta 2 turns x86 apps (old Windows/Mac style) into something Apple Silicon understands. Taking that trick to Linux could unlock tons of apps on cheap ARM machines, which is why everyone’s salivating. And yet the top question is painfully practical: “Does it produce runnable binaries?” Translation: can I actually use this today? A spicy twist: commenters point out Apple already ships a Linux build of Rosetta for use in Linux VMs on Apple Silicon Macs, hinting that with some patches it might run beyond Apple’s walls. Is this project a real jailbreak or just a fascinating peek under the hood? The vibe is equal parts hacker optimism and skeptical side‑eye, with memes, popcorn, and a whole lot of “show me the demo.” Learn what Rosetta is here.
Key Points
- •The project is a work-in-progress AI-powered reverse-engineering effort focused on Rosetta 2 for Linux.
- •Rosetta 2 is Apple’s dynamic binary translator for running x86_64 apps on ARM-based Apple Silicon Macs.
- •The repository contains functions reverse-engineered from the Rosetta 2 binary.
- •Recovered functions are organized into GF(2^8) multiplication and AES cryptographic extension categories.
- •The article provides categorization and context but no additional implementation details.