Both fink and MacPorts tend to be way behind the times, in terms of software versions.
Both also can take forever to install stuff, since in many - not all - cases things are compiled. Finally, the big problem - the resulting software, if it is GUI-based, isn't Mac-like at all! So why install the fink or MacPorts version of OpenOffice.org when I can install NeoOffice, which is OOo specifically written for Macs? Or why not use Firefox - the version specifically for Macs? And so on. You can't use apt, but oh well. You can, however, keep everything up to date using the free (for now) AppFresh, which is basically a lot like Synaptic for Macs. It's very nice. But it only updates; it doesn't install. And finally, for command-line stuff, try Rudix, a "collection of pre-compiled and ready to use Unix compatible software which are not available from a fresh installation of Mac OS X but are popular among other Unix environments" at http://rudix.org. I use some of rudix - like wget, for instance - and it works great. If you're using a Mac, part of the great thing about it is that you can use all the command line UNIX tools, but the other joy is the great Mac UI. If you're using GUI apps on a Mac, get those that adhere to the Mac HIG (Human Interface Guidelines), and don't settle for some X-based monstrosity. Scott On Wed, Feb 11, 2009 at 4:40 PM, Robert Citek <[email protected]> wrote: > > Anyone have recommendations on how to install FLOSS on a Mac? > > The usual stuff: OpenOffice, Firefox, and pre-compiled GNU goodies > (i.e. something equivalent to apt-get). > > Regards, > - Robert > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Central West End Linux Users Group (via Google Groups) Main page: http://www.cwelug.org To post: [email protected] To subscribe: [email protected] To unsubscribe: [email protected] More options: http://groups.google.com/group/cwelug -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
