At ExpressPCB we are constantly trying to find solutions for our current customers and future customers. A commonly asked question is “Do you have a version of ExpressPCB for MAC?” The official answer is: We do not. ExpressPCB is designed to run on Windows only. OS X is a Unix based operating system very different from Windows.
Developing a version of ExpressPCB from the ground up for a different operating system environment is not currently a viable option. However, all is not lost. There is a project called Wine that enables MAC owners to run Windows programs on OS X for FREE. This project is supported by CodeWeavers. CodeWeavers also has a paid supported version of this software that is relatively inexpensive at about $60.
According to the official website WineHQ.com, “Wine (originally an acronym for “Wine Is Not an Emulator”) is a compatibility layer capable of running Windows applications on several POSIX-compliant operating systems, such as Linux, Mac OSX, & BSD. Instead of simulating internal Windows logic like a virtual machine or emulator, Wine translates Windows API calls into POSIX calls on-the-fly, eliminating the performance and memory penalties of other methods and allowing you to cleanly integrate Windows applications into your desktop.”
The official Wine project can be found at //www.winehq.com
For our purposes we will be using an off shoot of the Wine Project called WineBottler by Mike Kronenberg. This project is located at//winebottler.kronenberg.org/
According to the official website winebottler.kronenberg.org: “WineBottler packages Windows-based programs likebrowsers, media-players, games or business applications snugly into Mac app-bundles…. No need to install emulators, virtualizers or boot into other operating systems – WineBottler runs your Windows-based programs directly on your Mac. This is possible thanks to a Windows-compatible subsystem, which is provided by the great OpenSource toolWine. “
Why use WineBottler instead of the official Wine project? WineBottler requires less “fidgeting” to install quickly. As you will see in the video it is pretty straight forward. You can be up and running not only ExpressPCB but other Windows programs in less than 5 minutes! There are a few “Download Ads” on the WineBottler website to watch out for that can be misleading. Mr. Kronenberg informs you that the ads are there before loading the download page for WineBottler. If you follow the video below it will help navigate the web site.
View the video here:
ExpressPCB and MAC OS X In Less Than 5 Minutes
Please note the staff at ExpressPCB do not support MAC OS X. This video is provided as a courtesy only to assist with the installation of WineBottler. The fact that we were able to figure it out shows how simple it is. If you are an experienced MAC user and have hints or tips making this process easier or more efficient please share on the ExpressPCB Forums.
Once ExpressPCB is installed we can assist with any questions about the program itself. ExpressPCB is not affiliated with WineHQ, WineBottler or Mike Kronenberg.
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