# System Requirements for Vorssaint-Utils: macOS 14 and Apple Silicon Prerequisites

> Vorssaint-Utils needs macOS 14 Sonoma+ on Apple Silicon Macs. Build from source using only Xcode Command-Line Tools. Get the latest requirements now.

- Repository: [vorssaint/vorssaint-utils](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-09-09

---

**Vorssaint-Utils requires an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 14 Sonoma or later, with only the Xcode Command-Line Tools needed to build from source.**

Vorssaint-Utils is a lightweight macOS menu-bar utility distributed through the `vorssaint/vorssaint-utils` repository. Understanding the system requirements for vorssaint-utils ensures compatibility whether you install the pre-built binary or compile from source. The application maintains minimal dependencies, requiring only standard Apple development tools for compilation.

## Hardware and Operating System Requirements

The repository explicitly defines strict hardware and software constraints in [`README.md`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/README.md) (lines 208-210).

### Apple Silicon Requirement

**Apple Silicon (M-series) chips** are mandatory for execution. The application binary is compiled exclusively for ARM64 architecture and cannot run on Intel-based Mac hardware.

### macOS Version Compatibility

The utility requires **macOS 14 Sonoma** or later. This version floor ensures availability of specific system frameworks utilized by the menu-bar implementation.

## Build Environment and Dependencies

### Xcode Command-Line Tools

As documented in [`README.md`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/README.md) (lines 220-221), compilation requires only the **Xcode Command-Line Tools**. The full Xcode IDE is unnecessary. These tools provide the Swift compiler and build utilities required to execute the build scripts.

### Swift Package Manager Configuration

The [`Package.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/Package.swift) file declares a standard Swift package with **zero external binary dependencies**. The project relies exclusively on system frameworks bundled with macOS, eliminating the need for additional SDKs or third-party libraries.

## Installation Methods

### Pre-built Binary via Homebrew

End users can install the signed, notarized `.app` bundle without any build tools. The Homebrew cask method requires no additional runtimes:

```bash
brew install --cask vorssaint

```

### Compiling from Source

Developers building from the `vorssaint/vorssaint-utils` repository need only the command-line tools. Clone the repository and execute the build script:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils.git
cd vorssaint-utils
./build.sh            # Compiles and signs the app

./build.sh --install  # Installs into /Applications and launches

```

The [`build.sh`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/build.sh) script invokes `swift build` internally and handles code signing automatically, provided the Xcode Command-Line Tools are present.

## Runtime Verification and Compatibility Checks

### Checking macOS Version Programmatically

The application entry point in [`Sources/Vorssaint/main.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/Sources/Vorssaint/main.swift) validates the host environment at launch. You can implement similar version checking using `ProcessInfo`:

```swift
import Foundation

let os = ProcessInfo.processInfo.operatingSystemVersion
guard os.majorVersion >= 14 else {
    fatalError("Vorssaint-Utils requires macOS 14 or newer.")
}
print("Running on macOS \(os.majorVersion).")

```

### Verifying Build Tools Installation

Before attempting to compile, confirm that the Xcode Command-Line Tools are installed on your system:

```bash
if xcode-select -p &>/dev/null; then
    echo "Xcode Command-Line Tools are installed."
else
    echo "Install them with: xcode-select --install"
fi

```

This verification ensures the `swift` compiler and associated build utilities are available in your PATH.

## Summary

- Apple Silicon (M-series) hardware is mandatory; Intel Macs are unsupported
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later is required for both runtime execution and compilation
- Only Xcode Command-Line Tools are needed to build from source—no full Xcode IDE required
- The [`Package.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/Package.swift) manifest contains no external dependencies
- Pre-built binaries install via Homebrew without additional runtimes
- Build and maintenance scripts ([`build.sh`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/build.sh) and [`Tools/uninstall.sh`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/Tools/uninstall.sh)) assume a compatible macOS environment

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does vorssaint-utils work on Intel-based Macs?

No. According to the source repository documentation in [`README.md`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/README.md), vorssaint-utils strictly requires Apple Silicon (M-series) hardware. The application binary targets ARM64 architecture exclusively and will not execute on Intel processors.

### Do I need to install the full Xcode application to build vorssaint-utils?

No. Only the Xcode Command-Line Tools are required to compile the project from source. You can install these tools by running `xcode-select --install` in Terminal. The full Xcode IDE is unnecessary, as confirmed by the build instructions in [`README.md`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/README.md) (lines 220-221).

### What is the minimum macOS version required to run vorssaint-utils?

The minimum supported version is macOS 14 Sonoma. The application checks `ProcessInfo.processInfo.operatingSystemVersion` at runtime to enforce this requirement, and the [`README.md`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/README.md) explicitly lists macOS 14 as the compatibility floor.

### Are there any third-party dependencies or SDKs required?

No. The [`Package.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/Package.swift) file confirms the project uses Swift Package Manager with no external binary dependencies. The application relies solely on system frameworks included with macOS, making the runtime and build requirements minimal.