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Stela v0.2.0

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@github-actions github-actions released this 11 Nov 15:51
· 513 commits to main since this release
v0.2.0
38f4f89

Install

Download the archive for your system, unpack it and plug in the USB stick. Then run one of these in the unpacked folder.

Make a new stick (this erases it):

sudo ./stela setup

Update an existing Stela stick to v0.2.0:

sudo ./stela setup update stela --usb /media/$USER/STELA --fetch

On Windows, open Terminal with Run as administrator and write .\stela.exe in place of sudo ./stela.

--usb takes the stick's mounted STELA volume. Run setup on the PC that will run macOS.

Then boot the PC from the stick.

Changes

Setup

  • The installer now follows the stick's size. A stick of 32 GB or more gets macOS, and the install needs no internet. A smaller stick gets the network installer. The installer choice and --install-image are gone.
  • Setup asks Apple for the install's signing answers while it makes the stick and stores them there. With macOS and every answer on the stick, the install opens no network at all.
  • Downloads and signing requests are retried, and a network failure or a sign-in page is named.
  • Setup keeps your proxy settings when it restarts itself through sudo.
  • Setup finishes writing the stick before it says done, and tells you to eject it.
  • On Linux, setup says when the stick is in use instead of asking for sudo.
  • Commands follow the stick to where it is mounted now, also when resuming or undoing an interrupted setup.
  • repair and update stela add the device firmware the last boot asked for. status names missing firmware.
  • Setup adds this computer's Intel, MediaTek or Realtek RTL8822C Wi-Fi firmware to the stick. With a Wi-Fi network, it also adds the Wi-Fi regulatory database.
  • On Linux and Windows, setup lists this computer's USB Bluetooth controllers and says what Stela does with each.

Install

  • An install whose network did not come up stops before the restore starts.
  • A network adapter that gets no address no longer ends the install with a crash.
  • The boot screen says when device firmware is missing and that stela setup repair adds it.

Performance

  • macOS gets more of the PC's memory: about 246 MiB more on a PC with 16 GB, and 1.2 GiB more with 32 GB.
  • A burst of freed GPU objects no longer stalls a CPU for 100 to 300 ms.
  • macOS learns sooner that GPU work has finished.
  • Disk completions are seen within 20 microseconds instead of up to 1 ms.
  • More half-precision and floating-point conversions run as native x86 code.
  • Short loops run inside their translated block, and authenticated branches are predicted.

Hardware support

  • Ethernet: Qualcomm Atheros AR816x and AR817x, and Killer E2200, E2400 and E2500.
  • Ethernet: Intel 82579, I217, I218 and I219 onboard adapters.
  • Wi-Fi: Intel, MediaTek and Realtek RTL8822C adapters load firmware that setup stored for their chip.
  • Bluetooth: more MediaTek USB Bluetooth adapters are recognized.
  • USB audio: devices with effect or processing units play sound instead of being refused.
  • Wi-Fi chips and Bluetooth controllers that Stela cannot drive are named in the boot log and left alone.

Fixes

  • The modeled Secure Enclave now handles keybag locking and password checks, which macOS uses to lock and unlock its data.
  • A crash message keeps the exception's vector and addresses on screen and in the boot log.
  • Interrupt routes that the firmware left open are closed at start.

Boot log

If Stela does not work, save the boot log and include log.txt in your report:

sudo ./stela setup boot-log --usb /media/$USER/STELA > log.txt
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