Trying to run end of life 3rd party software on newer Mac OS versions

[rib00]

Let's say that you have some software that is no longer developed and is documented to run on an older Mac OS. In my case, El Capitan. The software company probably ended development around the time of El Capitan. However, could have also easily been 1 or 2 operating systems beyond El Capitan (when the company stopped development).

The install CD or DVD for the software says copyright 2013.

Is there a way to get a general sense of what later operating system I could try to install it on? If there is a compatibility problem, will that sometimes take a long time to "surface?" The other thing is that I might be running the software without any updates since I don't think that the software company hosts an "update" server today.

Given that i have pretty much no objectives except to maintain the end of life software and the proprietary user data file created by said software, my hunch is that there isn't much point in trying to move to a newer Mac OS.

 

[MarkC426]

I think your only option is to try it on your current OS.
Then install newer OS’s on an external drive to test.

Alternatively, the software may have a user forum you can visit.

 

[Bigwaff]

If you stick to Mac Intel platform, you can always install older versions of macOS in UTM or Parallels virtual machines. Run your "no longer developed" application in a supported macOS version. For example, I have a 2018 Mac mini for just this purpose. The mini has Sequoia installed and I use Parallels to run older macOS versions.

 

[rib00]

If you stick to Mac Intel platform, you can always install older versions of macOS in UTM or Parallels virtual machines.

Yes, good point to run it as a virtual machine.
However, Parallels @ $219.99 is pretty steep.
But, there are free and open source alternatives.

 

[benholt]

For a 2013-era app the practical ceiling is probably Mojave (10.14). Catalina yanked 32-bit support and a lot of Carbon-era stuff just died there. Before going VM, try installing on a Mojave external boot if you can scrounge one up — you'll know in 5 minutes if the app is a 32-bit holdout or actually 64-bit Cocoa. UTM is free and runs Intel macOS VMs even on Apple Silicon, just be aware the perf is noticeably worse than Parallels for graphics-heavy stuff. If the app is mostly CPU/text/database work, UTM handles it fine.

 

[chabig]

VirtualProg is fully supported (by a developer who offers support here at MacRumors). It's $20 and fully supports both Intel and M-series Macs. Try it.

VirtualProg - Virtual Machine App - App Store

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VirtualProg - Virtual Machine

 

[Bigwaff]

However, Parallels @ $219.99 is pretty steep

It’s $80 for Pro version which will do what you want. What version are you looking at?