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Architecture

4 pages

  • Beyond amd64 and arm64

    In Design 903 words 5 min

    DesignArchitectureQEMUImages

    Barn currently supports amd64 and arm64 Linux guests. QEMU can emulate more architectures, but each additional Barn target needs an image and a complete boot-and-operation contract. This design assessment, reviewed on 2026-11-08, separates the …

    Barn currently supports amd64 and arm64 Linux guests. QEMU can emulate more architectures, but each additional Barn target needs an image and a complete boot-and-operation contract. This design assessment, reviewed on 2026-11-08, separates the …

  • Evolving the CLI Without Breaking Its Contracts

    In Design 958 words 5 min

    DesignCLICompatibilityArchitecture

    Barn already uses Cobra. The useful part of the 2026-11-04 CLI proposal is its separation of command syntax, application orchestration, and observable behavior. This essay retains that design, checked against v1.1.0 on 2026-11-09. The package split …

    Barn already uses Cobra. The useful part of the 2026-11-04 CLI proposal is its separation of command syntax, application orchestration, and observable behavior. This essay retains that design, checked against v1.1.0 on 2026-11-09. The package split …

  • The Lifetime of a Native Mac VM

    In Design 804 words 4 min

    DesignmacOSRecoveryArchitecture

    barn mac manages named macOS VMs through Apple’s Virtualization.framework, independently of the Linux inventory. Introduced in 0.9.0, it uses the native host app Barn.app, included in Apple Silicon release archives since 0.9.2. This essay distills …

    barn mac manages named macOS VMs through Apple’s Virtualization.framework, independently of the Linux inventory. Introduced in 0.9.0, it uses the native host app Barn.app, included in Apple Silicon release archives since 0.9.2. This essay distills …

  • Why Barn Has No Projects

    In Design 644 words 4 min

    DesignArchitectureinventoryState

    This essay explains the Linux lab deployment model in Barn 1.1.0 (macOS guests are managed as independent named VMs). Early prototypes of Barn treated every working directory as a separate project: a hidden directory marker identified the project, a …

    This essay explains the Linux lab deployment model in Barn 1.1.0 (macOS guests are managed as independent named VMs). Early prototypes of Barn treated every working directory as a separate project: a hidden directory marker identified the project, a …