Launchpad vs OpenCore
Launchpad
launchpad.netOpenCore
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Launchpad | OpenCore |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Boot Manager Software | 8.3 (#7) | 7.6 (#13) |
| Purpose | Launchpad is a software collaboration and hosting platform for software projects. | OpenCore is a bootloader distributed with a development SDK. |
| Support | Launchpad provides community support through Answers and links to Launchpad Support and a user guide. | The project README directs users to a list of OpenCore discussion forums. |
Plans
In their own words
Launchpad
Launchpad is a free platform for open-source collaboration, with tools to build and publish software. Projects can host Git repositories, review and merge changes, and link code changes to bug reports. Bug tracking can also integrate reports from Bugzilla, Trac, GitLab, and Mantis. Teams can build and distribute Debian packages, snaps, rocks, charms, and OCI images; documented architectures include AMD64, AMD64v3, ARM, and RISC-V. Localization tools support importing, exporting, and sharing translations, while blueprints help track project ideas and work. Launchpad Answers supports community help requests and FAQs. Automation options include a REST-style API, the launchpadlib Python client, and webhooks. The platform is available through the web, Linux, API, and self-hosted options. Commercial projects can request private branches, bugs, teams, mailing lists, and PPAs, but these features require Canonical authorization. Security documentation describes least-privilege access, restrictive networking, and fine-grained permissions; it also says automatic security monitoring was not in place as of July 2023.
OpenCore
OpenCore is a bootloader distributed with a development SDK. Its repository includes UEFI support libraries for Apple-specific UEFI drivers, with support for loading Apple disk images and manipulating PNG images. The libraries also cover Apple PE image signature verification, supplemental Apple UEFI secure boot code, XNU kernel driver injection, and a patch engine. For configuration, they parse plist files; OcGuardLib provides safe integral arithmetic, type-alignment checks, and a UBSan runtime. The project lists UEFI and BIOS support, multiboot, boot-entry editing, and boot-menu customization. It is described as multiplatform, with Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted among the listed platforms. OpenCore is free and open source under the BSD-3-Clause license. Release source archives are available as zip and tar.gz files, including version 1.0.7. The README points users to discussion forums in several languages, including KVM configuration discussion. Documentation also lists third-party kernel extensions and says that list is informational and provided without warranty.