To release for Mac you don’t have to, you can release out of the store, using java or python or some other language.
Your users will have a big warning though.
I think the notarization for Mac OS to get rid of the warning has no semi-editorial approval process but then you still need the Mac and the $100 (per year).
You need a Mac, to pay $100 a year, and to pass the Notarization process. For many open source utility apps that give customers greater control of their hardware, those apps will not pass the Notarization process because they touch things like private APIs.
The end result is the user is misled by macOS into thinking that the software they want to use is either broken or malicious, and they are left being unable to use their computer in a way that Apple doesn't like.
