ProjectZ.macOS 2026.11.2.1

Project-Z on Linux and macOS

ProjectZ.Linux and ProjectZ.macOS use MonoGame DesktopGL 3.8.5.1 (SDL2 and OpenGL) and the same maintained VB.NET scene, control, layout, XAML, animation, effects and procedural 3D sources as the Windows runtime. Both packages target net8.0; .NET 8 and later desktop applications can use them. No Windows desktop targeting pack, WPF, WinForms, .NET macOS workload or Wine is needed for the managed runtime. Building the macOS capture helper from source requires Xcode command-line tools; NuGet consumers receive that universal helper.

Install one platform runtime in an application:

dotnet add package ProjectZ.Linux --version 2026.11.2.1
# Or, for a Mac:
dotnet add package ProjectZ.macOS --version 2026.11.2.1

The platform packages each supply ProjectZ.dll. Do not reference both, or combine either with the Windows ProjectZ package, in the same target framework. For a multi-platform repository, condition the package reference on your target platform. Keep a separate Windows target when using Windows integrations.

The SDL/OpenAL native libraries flow from MonoGame's NuGet dependencies. Publish for an explicit RID so the SDK selects the appropriate libraries. Linux requires a graphical session and a working OpenGL driver; macOS requires an OpenGL-capable desktop session. Application signing, app bundles and notarization are separate deployment steps.

dotnet publish MyApp.csproj -c Release -r linux-x64 --self-contained true
dotnet publish MyApp.csproj -c Release -r osx-x64 --self-contained true
dotnet publish MyApp.csproj -c Release -r osx-arm64 --self-contained true

Build and verify from source

dotnet build "Project Z Linux/ProjectZ.Linux.vbproj" -c Release
dotnet build "Project Z macOS/ProjectZ.macOS.vbproj" -c Release
dotnet build "Project Z Linux Test/Project Z Linux Test.vbproj" -c Release

The Linux sample accepts -p:ProjectZDesktopPlatform=macOS to build against the Mac target. It uses the new VB runtime; the retired KNI/C# Linux project is no longer a build entry point. Project Z Desktop.slnx groups the portable projects for .NET 9+ SDKs and recent Visual Studio versions; individual projects also build with the .NET 8 SDK.

./tools/Pack-DesktopGLPackages.ps1
./tests/DesktopGL/Verify.ps1 -RuntimeIdentifier linux-x64
# Requires a desktop session (or xvfb on Linux):
./tests/DesktopGL/Verify.ps1 -RuntimeIdentifier linux-x64 -RunGraphics

Verification uses an independent NuGet consumer outside the source tree, checks the dependency graph, loads fonts, validates both embedded OpenGL shaders, and publishes Linux x64 and Intel / Apple Silicon macOS payloads. Native CI runs the build and checks on Ubuntu and macOS as well as Windows.

The main dotnet.yml workflow validates Windows and all DesktopGL matrix jobs, then assembles one seven-package version for GitHub and NuGet. Normal master pushes and default manual releases include both platform packages. The release takes Linux from Ubuntu and the universal macOS package from the Apple Silicon Mac job. validate_only=true verifies the complete set without publishing; desktopgl_only=true with publish_desktopgl=true remains available for a scoped release. Windows hosted CI checks builds and publishing without graphics; native Linux and Mac jobs also run the graphics, Unicode input and clipboard smoke tests.

OpenGL shader binaries are intentionally versioned source assets so Linux and Mac builds do not need the Windows HLSL compiler. After editing either shader or the MonoGame tool manifest, regenerate them on Windows with ./tools/Build-DesktopGLShaders.ps1 and commit the binaries and fingerprint file together. Builds reject stale shaders.