1) Install the host software UTM:
Visit https://mac.getutm.app/ and select “Download”
Installation instructions can be found here (from 0:00 to 5:37):
Don’t go past 5:37 in the video instructions!
2) If you want the free version (very slow!)
Download this virtual machine.
Hook up the virtual machine to your host computer using these instructions:
This will be very slow on modern Macs, because Apple computers no longer use Intel (x86) processors. They now use their own ARM-based processors. When you try to run an x86 operating system on an ARM-based Mac, the computer must emulate every CPU instruction, which makes it extremely slow.
3) If you want a much improved, very fast version
Download this virtual machine.
Hook up the virtual machine to your host computer using these instructions:
Be sure to choose "virtualization" rather than "emulation" when setting it up!
The good news is that Ubuntu now provides an ARM-native beta version that can run in virtualization (not emulation) using UTM, and both R and RStudio now have ARM Linux beta builds for this virtual machine. Since these are beta releases, there may be glitches, but overall performance is dramatically improved.
This is version is for paid supporters only. To join, visit: https://www.patreon.com/c/joshbanta.