UTM
UTM is an open-source virtualization software for macOS that allows users to run virtual machines (VMs) with various operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, and macOS, on Apple Silicon and Intel-based Macs. It provides a user-friendly interface for creating, managing, and running VMs using QEMU as its backend, supporting emulation for multiple CPU architectures like x86_64, ARM, and RISC-V. This tool is particularly useful for developers needing to test software across different environments without requiring separate physical hardware.
Developers should learn and use UTM when they need to run multiple operating systems on a Mac for cross-platform testing, development, or educational purposes, especially on Apple Silicon Macs where traditional virtualization tools like VMware or VirtualBox may have limited support. It is ideal for scenarios such as testing web applications in different browsers, developing software for Linux servers, or running legacy Windows applications, offering a cost-effective and flexible solution compared to maintaining separate physical machines.