On Oct 24, 2008, at 12:45 PM, Carl Paulsen wrote: > Thanks for the response. This is exactly why I'm confused. From > the xcircuit website it appeared that Fink distributed a pre- > compiled installer, but apparently not.
We take no responsibility for what other websites imply. :-) > Unfortunately, I don't understand what Fink DOES do then. It > "provides tools so I can download pre-compiled packages"...how is > that different from simply downloading an installer, Installer packages are just archives to be opened by some program. The Fink distribution provides a set of tools to work with its packages, Apple's Installer.app works with apple's .pkg files, ... > and why would I then need Fink? Because you cannot easily open our packages without using our tools; and because we use a modular system which means that typically you'll need to install several packages for a program that you'd run, and Fink handles this automatically for you. > You say "from its own binary distribution of packages." Can you > explain what you mean in layman's terms? This means distributed in compiled (meaning "binary", ready-to-run) form, rather than as source code. > I'm confused why xcircuit would send me to Fink if the installer > package is hosted elsewhere unless I need something from Fink...but > what? See my first comment above. > I think of binaries (in this context anyway) as simply source code > that needs to be compiled. Binary means compiled as above. > But of course I can get the source code from xcircuit directly. My > problem is I can't seem to compile it properly (I'm a beginner there > too). And just what is the xcircuit Fink page all about if it isn't > either for downloading source code or a pre-compiled installer OR > for some set of tools that help one download and install xcircuit? > I see no download option, either for code or for any set of tools. It's purely for informational purposes about what versions we have and to provide access to the package description files that control how our package gets compiled.. You don't _do_ anything from that page using Fink or its tools. > > > Sorry for what may seem like simple questions, but I just don't get > what Fink is - though I'd like to. The website is difficult to > translate... > > Thanks again, > Carl > You might be better off starting at the page that actually provides information on how to download Fink: http://www.finkproject.org/download/index.php?phpLang=en ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's challenge Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great prizes Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/ _______________________________________________ Fink-beginners mailing list [email protected] http://news.gmane.org/gmane.os.apple.fink.beginners
