Docker on Mac runs Linux containers inside a Linux VM - you can't run macOS in Docker. So if you need Claude / Codex / OpenCode to interact with:

- macOS GUI apps (Xcode, Numbers, Safari, etc.) - macOS desktop automation (screenshots, mouse/keyboard input, accessibility APIs) - macOS CI/CD (building iOS/macOS apps, running XCTest)

...you need an actual macOS VM, which is what Lume provides.

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fishtacos 6 hours ago | parent [-]

I wonder what the additional layer of virtualization changes with respect to this in a project like this one: https://github.com/dockur/macos

The unattended setup is a large improvement, which also begs the question: Mac OS doesn't have an unattended.xml alternative for its installer?

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frabonacci 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

re: https://github.com/dockur/macos

A closer comparison here is Lumier, which provides a "Docker-like" interface to spin up VMs with a noVNC server: https://cua.ai/docs/lume/guide/advanced/lumier/docker

The key difference: dockur/macos uses QEMU+KVM, which only works on Linux hosts. It can't run on macOS hardware since Apple doesn't expose KVM. See: https://github.com/dockur/macos/issues/256

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happyopossum 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

macOS has unattended setup options via MDM or Apple Configurator…

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easton 5 hours ago | parent [-]

Can you do zero touch without having an Apple Business account (so, a DUNS number) and a MDM?

I thought this was a silly way to do it too, but upon reflection I don’t know if you can zero touch setup a Mac without registering a device in DEP.

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frabonacci 4 hours ago | parent [-]

re: unattended setup.

You're both right - Apple's official zero-touch setup requires MDM + DEP, which needs Apple Business Manager (and yes, a DUNS number).

But for VMs specifically, DEP doesn't work anyway - VMs don't have real serial numbers that can be enrolled in Device Enrollment Program.

VNC-based setup automation is the only practical option - it's what the ecosystem has converged on for macOS VMs. Lume connects to the VM's VNC server and programmatically tabs, clicks, types through Setup Assistant.

	▲	arianvanp 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I wish the virtualization framework would allow you to simulate your own MDM stuff. Would be very useful for integration testing MDM implementations themselves...