I use Arch on an M1 MacBook, btw

A new Linux effort called Asahi Linux is making it possible to run a full Arch-based Linux setup on Apple silicon—specifically an M1 MacBook Pro—without jailbreaking, and the result is “working somewhat okay” for everyday use. The core takeaway is that Apple silicon’s usual “walled garden” problem (limited drivers and documentation) is starting to break open: M1 Macs provide bootloader access, so a dual-boot Linux install can be done legally and with a guided installer.

The process starts with preparing the Mac for installation. The user bought an M1 MacBook Pro, then installed prerequisites on macOS: Xcode was required because git wasn’t installed, and updating macOS to Monterey was also necessary before the installer command would run. Once the Asahi Linux installer is launched, it walks through options and—most importantly—creates a dedicated partition on the drive for Linux. The outcome is a dual-boot system: macOS remains on one side, while Linux (installed as an Arch-based environment) lives on the other.

Booting into Linux requires a specific hardware step: holding the power button for about 15 seconds to reach a screen with multiple boot options, then selecting Asahi. After boot, the setup lands in an Arch environment with the KDE Plasma desktop. A setup wizard is included, which the narrator jokingly frames as “cheating” for strict Arch purists, but it lowers the barrier for getting started.

For software compatibility, basic development workflows appear to work. Node.js was installed and JavaScript testing ran without obvious issues, and the system includes Vim out of the box. Visual Studio Code, however, ran into trouble, and the project lists known limitations—most notably around hardware acceleration. GPU and neural engine support are not fully functional yet, meaning Apple silicon’s performance advantages can’t be fully leveraged from Linux at this stage.

Even with those gaps, the install is portrayed as a major milestone: Asahi Linux is an experienced team’s project (they’ve worked on Linux in other “weird places” like the PlayStation), and the alpha release timing signals momentum. The overall message is practical rather than theoretical: it’s feasible to say “I use Arch” on an M1 MacBook now, even if some core hardware features remain unfinished. The narrator seals the point with a playful Arch tattoo, emphasizing the novelty and legitimacy of the setup rather than any benchmark-driven claim.