Is Calibre compatible with Apple Silicon M1 Macs (using rosetta 2)?

[kirk8677]

For those early adopters getting their new ARM based Macs today, I'm really curious if Calibre runs out of the box using Rosetta 2? And also how hard would it be to recompile an ARM native version for the new Macs?

[kovidgoyal]

Cant answer your first question, as to the second, pretty hard, all of calibre's deps would need to be dual compiled. In the past calibre has had dual ppc/x86 builds for os x, so its not impossible, just dont expect it to be anytime soon.

[kirk8677]

Thanks, if anyone buys an M1 Mac and tries it, please do report on whether it works!

[Quoth]

And also if Calibre works

[binaryhermit]

I'd think in theory it *should* work, though performance might not be great

[kirk8677]

@Quoth: indeed! The reviews are quite positive so far......

@Binaryhermit: quite the opposite, the initial benchmarks indicate that Intel code running on Mac's ARM actually is faster than many Intel native computers (google it). However, even Apple does not guarantee 100% of Intel code will work, and the exceptions are rather technical. I suspect Calibre will work fine based on what I have read.

[kirk8677]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Cant answer your first question, as to the second, pretty hard, all of calibre's deps would need to be dual compiled. In the past calibre has had dual ppc/x86 builds for os x, so its not impossible, just dont expect it to be anytime soon.

Here's a link from Apple that describes what is compatible: https://developer.apple.com/document...on_environment

Note specifically this (does Calibre use Kernel extensions?):

What Can't Be Translated?
Rosetta can translate most Intel-based apps, including apps that contain just-in-time (JIT) compilers. However, Rosetta doesn’t translate the following executables:

Kernel extensions

Virtual Machine apps that virtualize x86_64 computer platforms

Rosetta translates all x86_64 instructions, but it doesn’t support the execution of some newer instruction sets and processor features, such as AVX, AVX2, and AVX512 vector instructions. If you include these newer instructions in your code, execute them only after verifying that they are available. For example, to determine if AVX512 vector instructions are available, use the sysctlbyname function to check the hw.optional.avx512f attribute.

[kirk8677]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

I'd think in theory it *should* work, though performance might not be great

Here's Lightroom Classic running under Rosetta. I suspect Calibre performance will not be an issue!

https://youtu.be/S-dOB326mlY?t=771

[kovidgoyal]

No calibre does not use kernel extensions/virtual machines. As far as I know it *should* work fine, however, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

[kirk8677]

Thanks! I'm inspired enough to pick up my M1 Macbook Air tomorrow and try. 14 days to test it, at least!

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by kirk8677

@Quoth: indeed! The reviews are quite positive so far......

@Binaryhermit: quite the opposite, the initial benchmarks indicate that Intel code running on Mac's ARM actually is faster than many Intel native computers (google it). However, even Apple does not guarantee 100% of Intel code will work, and the exceptions are rather technical. I suspect Calibre will work fine based on what I have read.

Yes, Apple have done this before, 68K, Power PC, x86-32 and x86-64 with no 32 bit.
I'm sure it's well tested and while the Rossetta 2 might be slower than some non-Apple x86 computers, for a single core, it's faster than most or even all x86 Apple laptops and minis.

However I'd only buy one if I absolutely had to run Mac OS. I remember the 68K with ROM OS, the translucent CRT iMac original and the Mac in half a ball with OS9.

[lisainIL]

I have installed Calibre 4.23 on a new Mac mini with M1 chip. It works fine.
However... if you are using Alf's tool (v6.8) and Kindle for Mac 1.26, Alf's tool is not working properly.
I have posted on the Github (#1369) and in a couple of other threads here, but am having no luck with a solution.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by lisainIL

I have installed Calibre 4.23 on a new Mac mini with M1 chip. It works fine.
However... if you are using Alf's tool (v6.8) and Kindle for Mac 1.26, Alf's tool is not working properly.
I have posted on the Github (#1369) and in a couple of other threads here, but am having no luck with a solution.

Thanks for the update. Had a feeling Alf might be an issue.

[lisainIL]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Thanks for the update. Had a feeling Alf might be an issue.

FYI - If you have an eInk Kindle device and use the "download & transfer via USB" method, since you're bypassing the Kindle for Mac app in this situation, Alf's tool & Calibre work fine.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by lisainIL

FYI - If you have an eInk Kindle device and use the "download & transfer via USB" method, since you're bypassing the Kindle for Mac app in this situation, Alf's tool & Calibre work fine.

Best anyway. KFX is evil and adds DRM even when Publisher selects DRM free.