From the XScreenSaver collection, https://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/, we have the interesting Apple ][+ simulator.
According to its description, it can also be run as an application. But how?
If I use Finder to go to /Library/Screen Savers, Apple2.saver is present but running it just gets me the System Preferences / Desktop & Screen Saver screen.
If I get a Terminal and try to execute /Library/Screen\ Savers/Apple2.saver/Contents/MacOS/Apple2 I get an error "-bash: /Library/Screen Savers/Apple2.saver/Contents/MacOS/Apple2: cannot execute binary file". Adding the arguments to it that will probably make it behave in the way I want ("-text -program /bin/bash") obviously isn't going to help, we're not getting that far.
But it appears to be a valid MacOS binary, and runs just fine as a screensaver:
$ file /Library/Screen\ Savers/Apple2.saver/Contents/MacOS/Apple2
/Library/Screen Savers/Apple2.saver/Contents/MacOS/Apple2: Mach-O 64-bit bundle x86_64
Back in Finder, if I "Show Package Contents" and then look at Contents/MacOS/Apple2 it shows as a "Unix executable" and will start up a Terminal when double-clicked, resulting in the same error output.
What should I be doing?
Best Answer
The two savers that can run as apps are actually supplied as separate apps, you don't need to pick apart the .saver files to get them to run.
Using the 'Install Everything' option will install Apple2 and Phosphor to your regular Applications folder. Double-click to run, like any other app.