OpenCore

OpenCore is an open-source bootloader framework designed to boot macOS and other operating systems on a variety of hardware platforms. It provides a modern, extensible environment intended to replace older bootloaders in Hackintosh setups and to customize boot behavior on Apple devices.

Key features include a UEFI-based architecture, extensive patching and driver support, NVRAM emulation, SMBIOS spoofing, kernel extension loading, and a configuration file (config.plist) used to describe hardware quirks, patching requirements, and boot-time options. OpenCore emphasizes security and safety through aspects such as code signing, integrity checks, and minimal patching to support macOS.

Typical use is within the Hackintosh community to install or run macOS on PCs, or to configure macOS environments in virtualization setups. It is also used in legitimate testing and development scenarios where macOS is needed outside Apple hardware, though users should comply with software licenses and hardware terms of use.

Development and governance: OpenCore is maintained by an active community of developers referred to as the OpenCore Team, along with contributors from related open-source projects. The project is hosted on public repositories with documentation and updates to support new macOS releases and hardware configurations.

Licensing and availability: OpenCore is open-source, and its source code and documentation are publicly available; license details are provided in the repository.