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serhii-londar/open-source-mac-os-apps

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Cached analysis

cached 2026-03-30T12:49:04.749Z

3mo ago

serhii-londar/open-source-mac-os-apps

A large curated list of open source macOS applications. It is actively maintained, highly forked/starred, and centered on discovery rather than building a standalone app. The repo currently tracks 689 applications across 49 categories and is updated frequently.

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Stars48,024

Forks2,501

Default branchmaster

Last pushed2026-03-25T13:33:13Z

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Prefer upstream unless you specifically want this fork’s older curated snapshot or its custom workflow changes. For adopters, the main value here is self-contained fork customization; the main cost is staleness and loss of upstream freshness and structured metadata.

Prefer upstream unless you specifically need an older, customized snapshot. This fork looks better as a starting point for a bespoke catalog project than as a living source of current macOS app recommendations.

Choose upstream if you want current recommendations and active maintenance. Choose this fork only if you want an older, diverged snapshot with a few extra curation tweaks and do not care about freshness.

Choose upstream unless you specifically want a near-identical snapshot; this fork adds no visible capabilities and is already behind current upstream content.

Choose upstream unless you specifically need the Applite addition or want this exact snapshot; the fork is otherwise too close to upstream and too far behind to justify as a general replacement.

Choose this fork only if you want a mostly static, manually curated macOS app list and do not need upstream freshness, automation, or completeness. For most adopters, upstream is the better default.

Choose the upstream if you want current coverage and active maintenance. Choose this fork only if you specifically want an old, simplified snapshot you plan to maintain yourself.

Prefer upstream for an up-to-date recommendation source. Choose this fork only if you specifically want an older frozen catalog or plan to rework it into a custom list.

Choose the fork only if you want a legacy snapshot or a heavily customized starting point. For anyone who wants a current, actively maintained macOS apps directory, upstream is the better default.

Choose the fork only if you want a static, older curated list to customize. If you want current recommendations, active curation, and the full upstream workflow, upstream is the better choice by a wide margin.

Fork comparison

lwouis/open-source-mac-os-apps

38/100

stale

significant_divergence

Prefer upstream unless you specifically want this fork’s older curated snapshot or its custom workflow changes. For adopters, the main value here is self-contained fork customization; the main cost is staleness and loss of upstream freshness and structured metadata.

Likely purpose

Keep a separate, customized version of the open-source macOS apps list, likely for a frozen snapshot or fork-specific curation/build workflow rather than staying in lockstep with upstream.

Best for

Users who want a historical or frozen snapshot of the catalog.; Maintainers who want to branch off and run their own curated list with custom publishing workflows.; People who do not need the latest upstream app additions or automation.; Teams willing to maintain the fork themselves rather than consume an actively updated source.

Additional features

Fork-specific app curation changes from 2021, including added entries such as Plug, reventlou, baRSS, SimpleLocalize, Stats, Xcodes.app, and ThenGenerator.
Custom automation and publishing workflow files, including `.github/deploy.sh`, `.github/weekly-digest.yml`, and updated GitHub/Travis configuration.
README generation and list formatting changes that suggest the fork is meant to regenerate and redistribute the catalog in its own shape.
Icon and presentation asset changes, implying a customized visual catalog rather than a straight mirror.
Expands API, schema, or SDK surface area for downstream integrations and generated clients.
Introduces more operational workflow surface such as server-side handling, auth, session control, or admin tooling.

Missing features

It lags upstream by 210 commits and has not been pushed since 2021-09-15, so it likely misses many newer app additions and README updates from upstream.
`api.json` appears to have been removed, which can break downstream consumers that rely on structured API output.
`buildServer.json` also appears to have been removed, reducing support for upstream-style build automation metadata.
Upstream’s more recent README-generation and maintenance workflow changes are not fully present here, making ongoing catalog upkeep harder.
It trails upstream by 210 commits, so some recent upstream features and fixes are likely not present yet.

Strengths

Works as a self-contained forked snapshot of the catalog.
Includes its own curation and automation changes instead of being only a passive copy.
Could be useful if you want a frozen or simplified variant of the upstream list.
Still preserves the core purpose of discovering open-source macOS apps.

Risks

Materially stale relative to upstream.
High chance of missing current app data, metadata, and workflow fixes.
Reduced compatibility for tooling that expects upstream JSON/build files.
The fork’s long inactivity makes it a poor choice for adopters who want a live-maintained catalog.

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