Retrofitting
Modern things for old Macs. Apps for Mac OS X Aqua and Mac OS 9 Classic, made to run on the real hardware.
Version 0.1.1 is out for Mac OS X 10.5. The source is open.
LocalSend Retro
Read Me
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LocalSend Retro
- More apps, later
LocalSend Retro
Share files with the official LocalSend app on phones and modern computers. Your old Mac shows up in its list, and you can send and receive in both directions.
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Mac OS XAqua, 10.3 to 10.5
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Mac OS 9Classic
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|---|---|---|
| Runs on | PowerPC Macs with Mac OS X 10.3 to 10.5 | PowerPC Macs with Mac OS 9.x and Open Transport |
| Status | Working Tested on 10.5 Leopard. The 10.3 and 10.4 builds are not tested yet. | In development Source is ready, but it has not been built on real hardware yet. |
| Finds devices | Yes, on your local network | Designed to, on your local network (untested) |
| Receives files | From any LocalSend device | Designed to, from any LocalSend device (untested) |
| Sends files | To any LocalSend device. Encrypted devices need 10.4 or later, which is untested so far. | Designed for devices with encryption turned off only (untested) |
| Device name | You can change it | Planned |
| Updates | Built in. Each update is checked against a signature before it installs. | Download new versions by hand |
Download LocalSend Retro 0.1.1
For Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard on a PowerPC Mac (G4 or G5). Unzip it and open LocalSend.app. Later versions arrive inside the app. See all versions on GitHub.
Build it yourself
- Install Xcode Tools on the old Mac. They include
gcc. This is the way to get it on 10.3 or 10.4. - Download the source and unzip it.
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Open Terminal, go into the folder and run:
sh build.sh - Open
LocalSend.app. Pick your Mac in the LocalSend app on your phone and send a file.
On Mac OS X 10.3 the build leaves out encryption. Sending to encrypted devices needs 10.4 or later.
Open the Mac OS 9 source
No ready-made application yet. You build it on the OS 9 Mac with Apple's free MPW.
Build it with MPW
- Install MPW with the Universal Interfaces. Both are free from Apple.
- Copy the
os9,srcandassetsfolders to the OS 9 Mac. -
In the MPW Shell, set the project folder as the directory and run:
Execute :os9:build.mpw - Open the new
LocalSendapplication. It is designed to receive from every LocalSend device.
This version is untested on real hardware. If you try it, please tell me what happened.
Retrofitting collects apps that bring modern things to old Macs. Each one is built to run on the real machines, with the real interface of its time: Aqua on Mac OS X 10.3 to 10.5, Platinum on Mac OS 9.
LocalSend Retro is the first. It speaks the real LocalSend protocol, so a PowerPC Mac appears in the official LocalSend app, next to your phone and your laptop.
Why you can trust it
- The code is open and MIT licensed. Read all of it on GitHub.
- On Mac OS X, an update only installs after its signature checks out against a key built into the app, and only after you say yes.
- This page has no accounts, no analytics and no trackers.
- It is an independent project, not affiliated with LocalSend.
Help test
Have a Panther or Tiger Mac, or one that still boots Mac OS 9? Try a build and open an issue with what worked and what didn't. That is the fastest way to move a build from "untested" to "working".