Legacy Intel / OCLP
Older, constrained compatibility conditions.
Cleverfeets / Development Lab
Cleverfeets Development Lab
Real hardware.
Real storage.
Real-world compatibility.
Cleverfeets is designed to understand digital estates built up over years or decades of computers, disks, backups and storage systems. Software trusted with that history needs to be tested against the real thing.
01 / The reason for the Lab
The real world is the test fixture.
A clean, current development Mac tells only part of the story. Real digital estates span Intel and Apple silicon, different generations of macOS, removable storage, bridge hardware, network storage and migrations that do not always go to plan.
Software that understands old data needs to understand old computers.
COMPUTE × STORAGE ESTATE — compatibility is a matrix, not a benchmark.
Compute generations
Different machines
- Legacy Intel / OCLP
- Late native Intel
- First-generation Apple silicon
- Current Apple silicon
The storage estate
Different histories
- Internal, USB, SATA and NVMe
- Thunderbolt and FireWire
- Removable media
- NAS / network storage
- Legacy interfaces
02 / Current Lab
What exists is not the same as what is needed.
The Lab is organised by capability: the environments Cleverfeets can test today, and the ones still being added.
A capability is covered when the Lab has a suitable resource for it. Personal hardware can support development, but it does not replace dedicated Lab infrastructure.
Compute
Late native Intel
A distinct native x86_64 reference remains wanted.
First-generation Apple silicon
A constrained M1 baseline remains wanted.
Apple silicon development & qualification
Modern Cleverfeets development can currently use a personal Apple-silicon Mac, but the Lab still lacks a dedicated system for this role.
Storage / Connectivity
Direct-attached storage
Real media, enclosures and controller diversity.
Network storage
Existing TrueNAS coverage and real SMB behaviour.
Legacy interfaces
Bridges the past to systems customers retain.
Future public record
CF-MAC-001 · Legacy Intel ReferencePhysical equipment → documented Lab role.
Public asset records
Added as equipment is formally documented.
03 / Coverage gaps
The missing cells matter.
The Lab tracks the capability first, then the hardware that can provide it.
Late native Intel reference
Missing capability: Native late-generation Intel / x86_64 testing independent of legacy/OCLP conditions.
Why it matters: It separates genuine late-Intel behaviour from conditions specific to much older unsupported hardware.
- Reference target
- 2020-era 13-inch Intel MacBook Pro; 10th-generation Core i5 class; 16 GB memory class; 512 GB storage class.
First-generation Apple silicon baseline
Missing capability: First-generation M1 testing under constrained memory and performance conditions.
Why it matters: It exposes assumptions that current hardware can hide.
- Reference target
- 2020 M1 Mac mini; 8 GB memory class; 256 GB storage class.
Apple silicon development & qualification
Current state: Modern Cleverfeets development still relies on a personal Apple-silicon Mac rather than dedicated Lab infrastructure.
Why it matters: A dedicated system provides a stable environment for Xcode, native builds, signing, sandbox qualification, sustained testing and current macOS compatibility—without tying the Lab to a personal computer.
- Reference target
- 16-inch MacBook Pro; M5 Pro; 48 GB unified memory; 1 TB SSD.
04 / Programme taxonomy
Six domains, one purpose.
Each Lab domain adds a different kind of real-world evidence to Cleverfeets testing.
Critical Test Nodes
Mac systems selected to fill specific compatibility, development and qualification roles.
Active procurementStorage & Migration Lab
HDD, SSD, NVMe, DAS, docks, enclosures, removable media and controller diversity.
Active / expandingLegacy Hardware & Adapters
Thunderbolt, FireWire, SATA, IDE/PATA and useful bridges.
ExpandingLab Safety & Infrastructure
Write protection, ESD safety, labelling and powered USB data hubs.
Active / expandingNetwork & NAS Testing
SMB authentication, permissions, discovery, disconnects and vendor behaviour.
Covered / lower priorityFuture / Edge Cases
Optical, old USB, Zip/Jaz, floppy, IDE/PATA and unusual archival interfaces.
Opportunistic05 / Current procurement
What the Lab needs now
The immediate priority is a dedicated current Apple-silicon development and qualification node. Late Intel and M1 reference systems remain important compatibility gaps, while storage and interface coverage continues to expand.
Dedicated Apple silicon development & qualification
Stable modern development and qualification infrastructure.
Late native Intel reference
A native x86_64 reference cell.
M1 baseline
A constrained first-generation Apple silicon cell.
Media, controllers & bridges
More storage and interface diversity.
The live wishlist carries the equipment currently being considered, along with current availability and pricing. This page explains the engineering role behind each requirement.
06 / Support
Support the capability, not a shopping list.
Current needsExisting hardware
Throne wishlist
The wishlist carries the Lab's current equipment requirements, availability and live procurement options.
Potential donations
Old Macs, drives, adapters and unusual media can add useful coverage. A public hardware-donation route will be added when the intake process is ready.
07 / Stewardship
Built for coverage, not collection.
Engineering need first
Every item should add a meaningful compatibility, development or qualification role.
No pay-to-influence
Supporting the Lab does not buy control over Cleverfeets product decisions.
Used hardware is useful
Older equipment can provide testing conditions that new hardware cannot.
Transparent purpose
Published Lab equipment should have a clear role.
Useful service
Equipment stays in service while it continues to add useful coverage.
Privacy
Public contributor recognition is optional.
08 / Accountability
From hardware to evidence.
As the Lab grows, its public record can show when equipment enters service, what role it fills, what testing it enables and what that testing changes.
Requirement identifiedEquipment acquiredAsset qualifiedCompatibility testingReal findingsProduct behaviour improved
Cleverfeets / Development Lab
Digital estates do not begin with today's computer.
They accumulate across machines, disks, backups, migrations and years. The Development Lab exists so Cleverfeets can meet more of that history before it asks anyone to trust it with theirs.