macports vs fink?

14 Jul 2007

macports vs fink?

In setting up a new mac os x machine for development, I seem to fiddle with the various choices out there. In one respect, I really like linux for having 'one way' (per distribution of course) for installing all of your system packages. On the mac, however, there are a couple choices:

Install everything from source: most control, biggest hassle
Install things from various binary packages: least control, hassle monitoring updates & upgrades from different sources. Packages like MAMP lessen some of this burden, but I still need other tools like subversion, etc.
Fink : installs a debian-like apt-get system
MacPorts (formerly DarwinPorts): uses a freebsd-like ports system for managing packages.

Traditionally, I've used Fink - as I generally use Debian on servers, so I'm very familiar with apt-get, dpkg, etc. However, fink, perhaps like debian proper, seems to lag with packages in stable, and you typically have to use the ports-like fink command anyway.

This time around, too, I noticed that MacPorts is now hosted by Mac OS Forge: making it a (semi-)official Apple project. This probably bodes well for it's future and longevity. There's a port for php5, apache2 and mysql5... so I've decided to give it a whirl.

What are others using?

posted 12:59pm:

tags:

fink is pretty good, be

by Anonymous (not verified)

July 14, 2007 - 2:31pm

fink is pretty good, be ready to install things to /usr/local from time to time but I've only got a couple things in there (specific version of mysql, for example)

Me a Fink

by Jay (not verified)

July 18, 2007 - 1:43am

I'm using fink as well.

I'm hooked on Debian and the package management system, so Fink is for me.

The only gripe I have is the older versions of packages, as you had indicated in your article.

I've had very little experience with MacPorts and I'm interested in finding out how it has worked out for you.

Keep us posted on your experiences with MacPorts.

that sums it up

by Martin Swany (not verified)

July 18, 2007 - 4:14am

I came across your post while looking for someone to have answered this question for me! I've been a debian guy for years and so I was initially drawn to fink. As you note, you pretty much end up using the "fink" command rather than apt-get and dpkg. Due to some software availability (that I can't remember now) I have both fink and macports and it bugs me. I was hoping to go one way or the other finally, especially since now my macports installation is broken with libraries that it can't find. Anyway, I'll reinstall macports and try once again to make a clean break.

Macports for me

by Dan K. (not verified)

July 18, 2007 - 9:25pm

Somewhere on the net there's a great tutorial for getting MAMP up with Macports. I started out with Fink but have switched, mostly because I came from Gentoo and its ports clone. As you say, Macports also seems to be better caught-up for important packages. Overall, though, I think the most important thing is to pick one and stick with it.