Compute Engine is a service provided by Google Cloud that allows users to run virtual machines on Google's infrastructure. However, this service is not directly applicable to the Apple environment, particularly macOS, which does not natively support Google Compute Engine. Instead, macOS users can leverage alternatives such as Docker, Parallels Desktop, or VirtualBox to create and manage virtual machines locally or in the cloud. These tools provide similar functionalities and can be integrated with cloud services to achieve comparable results.

Examples:

1. Using Docker on macOS: Docker is a platform that allows you to develop, ship, and run applications inside containers. Containers are lightweight and include everything needed to run an application, making them portable and consistent across different environments.

   • Installing Docker on macOS:

     # Install Docker Desktop for Mac
     brew install --cask docker

   • Running a Container:

     # Pull an image from Docker Hub
     docker pull ubuntu
     
     # Run a container from the image
     docker run -it ubuntu /bin/bash

2. Using Parallels Desktop: Parallels Desktop is a popular virtualization software for macOS that allows you to run multiple operating systems simultaneously.

   • Creating a Virtual Machine:
     1. Download and install Parallels Desktop from the official website.
     2. Open Parallels Desktop and select "New" to create a new virtual machine.
     3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the desired operating system.

3. Using VirtualBox: VirtualBox is an open-source virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple operating systems on your macOS system.

   • Installing VirtualBox:

     # Install VirtualBox using Homebrew
     brew install --cask virtualbox

   • Creating a Virtual Machine:

     1. Open VirtualBox and click on "New" to create a new virtual machine.
     2. Follow the prompts to set up the virtual machine, including selecting the operating system and allocating resources.
     3. Start the virtual machine and install the operating system from an ISO file or other installation media.