For years I'm a MacOS user, albeit not particular an Apple fan. Last year I started to learn MacOS X, primary to get Open Source tools running (PHP, MySQL) to build online courses with Macromedia Flash. I'm currently developing UML, object-oriented technolgoy, Flash? PHP? courses.
I met Linux and liked the way applications and tools get installed (SuSE LinuxPPC). An old Mac, Starmax, is wrapped up with this operating system and runs as my local webserver (intranet). I installed MacOS X on an iBook (Dual USB rev.1) and needed PHP and MySQL. Initially I installed the binary packages, but found out that Apple "owns" the MacOS X hard disk (partition). Then I found out about fink: a package which enables me to install tools compiled and configured from sources and the ability to store the applications in a separate hard disk partition. MySQL was the first package I tried and it worked! Later on, I installed other, small packages like JUnit (Java testing environment), and 'povray' (a ray-tracing program). My most appreciated facilities of 'fink' are the following: 1) it installs UNIX tools without too much knowledge about UNIX. That's mean: if everything compiles/installs with no problem: okay. Some trouble when not. Some packages (PHP) I won't install via 'fink'. In my opinion, they are too intermixed with Apache and MacOS X. 2) a separate folder from MacOS X system, where *my* tools are installed. I upgraded several times the MacOS X system without upgrading 'fink'-installed tools! Great. Later on, I completely move the 'fink' folder (sw) to another partition in order to burn the information on CDROM more easier. 3) get up-to-date with some packages without waiting for someone to make binary packages (such as MySQL). 4) 'fink' gives me the feeling I'm more in control what should be installed. I'm not used to UNIX. 5) a good learning curve for UNIX tools. I.e. the tools get installed (see 1)) and I can concentrate myself on the usage of the tools. Whenever I find an UNIX tool, I first start looking in 'fink'. Peter van der Post (trainer for professional software developers in UML, object-oriented technology, (design) pattern-based development and Java) >>I am just curious, who are Fink users? >> >>I use Fink because I am a Linux freak who happened to buy a Mac >>(I had a chance to get a computer on time with no interest at work >> And I had a lot of different computers so I decided to try a Mac) >> >>Fink doesn't seem to me to be a normal Mac user thingy >>How did the rest of you folks happen to get here? >>(i.e. linux, unix, sun, school, office, etc.) > -- ________________________________________________________________________________ drs. P.van der Post, trainer for professional software developers in UML, object-oriented technology, (design) pattern-based development and Java. Email to <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. ________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Have big pipes? SourceForge.net is looking for download mirrors. We supply the hardware. You get the recognition. Email Us: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ Fink-beginners mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/fink-beginners
