On Dec 11, 2:42 pm, Bruce Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > On Dec 11, 2010, at 8:49 AM, Tina K. wrote: > > > I've read the FAQ on the Fink project but I'm still not entirely clear on > > what exactly it is. Is it an operating environment a la Java, or an > > emulator like Virtual Box or Wine? Is it strictly a repository of ported > > apps with apt-get functionality, and if so why use apt-get instead of > > normal OS X installation? Or is it something else entirely? > > It's a way of installing *nux-based applications easily, downloading source > code, managing prerequisites and dependencies, compiling and installing all > the required libraries and dependent packages automatically, and doing it in > a way that Apple updates will not break the installed applications. > > It is identical to what MacPorts (aka Darwinports) does; I think most of the > up-to-date stuff has moved to the MacPorts project, but I could be wrong. > Fink and Macports happily co-exist on a Mac, but you'll end up with > duplicates of things like the Gnome libs because each installs in it's own > directory structure. > > All applications installed in this fashion either run on the command line or > via X-Windows; this is *not* a way of installing Mac-native ports of these > applications...if they have one of those, there should be standard Mac > installers for them.
It's not that the most up-to-date stuff has *moved* to macports, rather, the fink devs are glacially slow at accepting updated packages. I submitted a package update to fink in january, and didn't receive any comments on it until april. I use and prefer fink because every time I switch to macports, after about six weeks the ports database gets corrupted and forces a reinstall of everything. So far, haven't had a problem with the fink backend voodoo (a custom perl script mixed with apt-get and dpkg). -sri -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
