TurtleSilicon

A powerful multi-version World of Warcraft launcher for Apple Silicon Macs, supporting Vanilla (1.12), TBC (2.4.3), WotLK (3.3.5), Turtle WoW, and Project Epoch. Features one-click patching, addon management, and performance optimization for all WoW versions.

Supported Game Versions

TurtleSilicon now supports multiple World of Warcraft versions and private servers:

• Turtle WoW - Enhanced vanilla experience with custom content
• Project Epoch - Wrath of the Lich King (3.3.5a) server with automatic client setup
• Vanilla WoW - Classic 1.12.1 experience
• Burning Crusade - TBC 2.4.3 expansion
• Wrath of the Lich King - WotLK 3.3.5a expansion

Each version maintains separate settings, paths, and configurations for complete isolation.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

• A working version of CrossOver installed (the trial version is sufficient and can still be used after expiration).
  • I recommend using CrossOver v25.0.1 or later. Older versions will cause issues.
• The World of Warcraft Client for your desired version:
  • Turtle WoW: Download from the official Turtle WoW website
  • Project Epoch: Provide a WotLK 3.3.5a client (TurtleSilicon will download Project Epoch files)
  • Other versions: Provide your own legitimate WoW installation

Features

Performance & Compatibility

• Apple Silicon Native: Runs all World of Warcraft versions on M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs without "illegal instruction" errors
• Advanced Performance Optimization:
  • Integrates rosettax87 for accelerated x87 FPU instructions
  • Uses d9vk for efficient DirectX9 via Vulkan/Metal translation
  • Optional libSiliconPatch for SSE2 instruction replacement (2x+ FPS boost - works only on TurtleWoW)
  • Achieves significant FPS improvements (20 FPS → 200+ FPS in many scenarios)

Multi-Version Support

• Version Management: Switch between different WoW versions seamlessly
• Isolated Settings: Each version maintains separate configurations, paths, and settings
• Version-Specific Features: Tailored options for each WoW version (e.g., vanilla-tweaks for older versions)
• Dynamic UI: Interface adapts based on selected version capabilities

Addon Management

• Git Repository Support: Automatic updates for addons hosted on GitHub/GitLab
• Bulk Operations: Update all addons at once or manage them individually
• Easy Installation: Add new addons directly from repository URLs
• Smart Detection: Automatically detects git-managed addons in your Interface/Addons folder

Advanced Configuration

• Graphics Settings: Automated optimization for terrain distance, shadows, multisampling
• Environment Variables: Custom environment variable support per version
• Wine Registry Management: Option-as-Alt key remapping for Mac users
• Terminal Integration: Optional terminal output for debugging

Project Epoch Integration

• Automatic File Management: Downloads and configures all required Project Epoch files for your existing WotLK 3.3.5a client
• File Validation: Ensures all necessary Project Epoch components are present before launching
• Seamless Updates: Automatic realmlist updates and Project Epoch file management

Usage

Getting Started

1. Launch TurtleSilicon.app

   • (The app is not signed, so you may get a security warning. Open Terminal and run xattr -cr /Applications/TurtleSilicon.app to bypass it)

2. Select Your Game Version

   • Click on the large version title at the top to open the version selector
   • Choose from Turtle WoW, Project Epoch, Vanilla, TBC, or WotLK
   • Each version will have its own independent configuration

3. Set CrossOver Path

   • If CrossOver is installed in the default location (/Applications/CrossOver.app), this path will be pre-filled
   • Otherwise, click "Set/Change" and navigate to your CrossOver.app bundle

4. Set Game Directory Path

   • Click "Set/Change" and select the folder containing your WoW client files
   • For Project Epoch: Point to your WotLK 3.3.5a installation - TurtleSilicon will automatically download missing Project Epoch files

5. Apply Patches

   • Click "Patch Game" to apply performance optimizations
   • Click "Patch CrossOver" to enable compatibility layers
   • Status indicators will turn green once patching is successful

6. Start RosettaX87 Service

   • Click "Start Service" and enter your sudo password when prompted
   • This runs the performance optimization service in the background
   • The service automatically stops when you close the launcher

7. Configure Options (Optional)

   • Access the Options menu for detailed settings:
     • Enable version-specific features (e.g., vanilla-tweaks)
     • Configure graphics settings for optimal performance
     • Set up custom environment variables
     • Manage Wine registry settings

8. Manage Addons

   • Click Addons to open the addon manager
   • Update existing git-based addons or install new ones from repositories
   • Filter to show only git-managed addons for easy maintenance

9. Launch Game

   • Once everything is configured and patched, click the large PLAY button
   • Enjoy your optimized World of Warcraft experience on Apple Silicon!

Running from Source Code

If you prefer to run from source:

git clone https://github.com/tairasu/TurtleSilicon.git
cd TurtleSilicon
go run main.go

Note: Requires Go to be installed. See Build Instructions for details.

Recommended Graphics Settings

TurtleSilicon includes automated graphics optimization, but you can also manually configure:

1. Terrain Distance: Set as low as possible to reduce CPU overhead
2. Vertex Animation Shaders: Enable to prevent graphic glitches on custom models
3. Multisampling: Set to 2x for proper portrait loading
4. Shadow LOD: Set to 0 for ~10% FPS improvement
5. libSiliconPatch: Enable for 2x+ FPS boost (TurtleSilicon only, may cause rare graphical issues)

Access these settings through the Options menu or use the "Apply recommended settings" button for automatic configuration.

Build Instructions

Prerequisites

1. Go: Download from golang.org
2. Fyne: Install following Fyne documentation

Building

Option 1: Using Makefile (Recommended)

make

This automatically:

• Builds for Apple Silicon macOS
• Copies required resource files to the app bundle

Option 2: Manual Build

GOOS=darwin GOARCH=arm64 fyne package
cp -R rosettax87 winerosetta TurtleSilicon.app/Contents/Resources/

Version-Specific Features

Turtle WoW

• Full vanilla-tweaks integration
• Custom graphics optimizations

Project Epoch

• Automatic Project Epoch file downloading for existing WotLK 3.3.5a clients
• File validation and updates

Credits

All credit for the core translation layer winerosetta and rosettax87 goes to @Lifeisawful. This application is merely a Fyne-based GUI wrapper to simplify the patching and launching process.

https://github.com/Lifeisawful/winerosetta

https://github.com/Lifeisawful/rosettax87

Bundled Binaries

The rosettax87 and winerosetta components are precompiled for convenience. You can compile them yourself using:

• winerosetta repository
• rosettax87 repository

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.