Since Mac OS X has a full blown unix under the hood (i.e. 100% posix compliance) and brings a X11 server by default you can run nearly all software packages you know and love from Linux and BSD.
An easy way to install and maintain oss software is using MacPorts, a packet management system that allows you to install software from a huge software tree that should cover all your nerdy needs.
Unlike most packet managers MacPorts will download and compile the software package on your machine instead of downloading binaries which can be a time (and cpu) consuming task.
Preparements
X11: You find X11 on your Mac OS X Installation DVD as "Optional Installs".
Xcode: You need to install Xcode which you find on your Mac OS X Installation DVD. Make sure you install the optional components for the command line development aswell. (unix development)
Usage
After the installation of Macports (which is pretty straightforward) you just need to open terminal.
Note: commands with "sudo" infront are executed with superuser rights, therefore os x will ask for your password.
First we do a update of the port library
sudo port -v selfupdate
to search software we simply use
port search imagemagick
to obtain information about a package
port info imagemagick
and finally we install the package
sudo port install imagemagick
to uninstall you can simply do
sudo port uninstall imagemagick
to check a list of currently installed packages
port installed
and upgrade all installed packages to the newest version
sudo port upgrade outdated
If you have any questions or comments feel free to post em, next time we will look how to install and use Windows programs under Mac OS X.
Download Macports
82 comments:
Thanks man; this will come in handy!
Thanks for the tutorial! This will come in use when installing windows programs :D
windows programs running on mac? thats really useful
Oh wow this is very useful
windows on mac is in my next tutorial, this is about linux/oss software on osx
Wow, I did not know that!
Very thanks!
I can say that you're instructionals are way more detailed than mine! :)
I know someone who's mac is gonna be manipulated a bit... that person is me.
Another good tut. Thanks for the post!
Nice post BRO!!
I went here today!!
$upporting
Great blog! I'm a Mac user, nice to find someone showing me something new! Following!
One of my mates has done this on his Mac, personally I can't stand them.
thanks for the info.
Lame prompt, bro. Real men use '; '.
thanks for the tips
Seriously though, if I wanted to mess around with a command line, I wouldn't shell out the mega bucks required for an Apple product.
@Questions well its awesome you have the choice, unix under the hood is always big + for me
I've been drooling over the new macbook pros lately and, being a windows/linux guy exclusively, this would be the first thing I look up once I get one. Now I can just bookmark your blog and come back in 3 years when I've saved up $1200+
mac OS looks so clean.
Seems a bit complicated for me, I think my mac wouldn't like me tinkering at the UNIX under it's hood.
Cool man! Defintely going to takes these tips on board for my mac! thanks again!
Very nice guide, thanks.
Wow, really useful, although it seems a bit complex :S
very useful info,thanks bro
Or just use a pc.
I wish I had the brain power to not fully screw that up. haha BTW...if you're interested I'd be honored if you joined my blog community at bloggerdise.com.
useful information
windows on a mac???
randomramblingggg.blogspot.com
some good info here. i didn't know it was unix under the hood.
This is great, thanks!
Good info! I'm definitely eager to hear about Windows on Mac.
That first sentence went completely over my head, and it went downhill from there.
Sorry, I guess I'm just not technical enough.
Thanks bud.
I imagine this would be very helpful...were I running a Mac right now. haha. Thanks nonetheless. I'll keep this in mind for reference.
very informative, where do you learn all this stuff?
I love openBSD
Insane hipstery
Nice guide thx!
Wow, now i HAVE to try this. followe
alphabetalife.blogspot.com
really helpful, thanks!
*cough* PC *cough*
good guide cheers for this x
I do also use OS X, but did not know that! big thanks
http://baxxmans.blogspot.com/
Nice posts, looking forward to more customization related ones
I must say, Macs are best for photo and video editing ...
This is madness mate! Thanks for sharing.
Nice, haven't seen this so clearly explained, thanks!
thx for tutorial
It's not that complicated! =] looking forward to your next post
I did not know you could do this, thanks mate!
thanks
Yea, MacPorts definitely helped the installation run smoothly.
thanks for the info!
This is fantastic. I'll have to play around.
Sorry, but I'm not a huge fan of Macs.
This is good for future reference.
MacPorts has helped me quite a bit on my other machine, I'm glad they simplified the process of installing/compiling.
fantastic write up
great post! this will do me well.
glad i found you,followed
Soma_Shank_Tank
Wow i've been looking everywhere for this info!!
Thanks for the information!
really interesting post. thanks for the info.
Great tutorial mate!
didn't know that this works!
MP is fantastic -- just wish there was a standalone OSX GCC so I wouldn't have to install xcode just to get coreutils...
Good to know, thanks.
thanks for the info!
http://all-around-toto.blogspot.com/
I have been in IT for about 15 years, but I have very little experience with Macs. I see a lot of potential in this blog, and I will be following you from here on out.
Great tip! Thank you.
Macs, hahaha
Nice, thanks for the info
thanks for the info bro
wow, looks very cool
i don't like apple. but maybe this blog change my point of view!?
re-read this article and well,i hate x11
I was always more of a linux guy, I've steered clear of apple due to business ethics. I have no issue with the operating system, just the company that owns it. Hell, it's a sister-system to Linux since they're both based off unix.
I have a friend who created a Geometry program/game, and he uses Mac because of the unix thing... it helps him with programming? Or something? I forgot why exactly. I always thought he was just being pretentious with his little Macbook until he explained. ^_~
MacBook-Air:~ admin$ sudo port install cowsay
Password:
---> Fetching cowsay
---> Attempting to fetch cowsay-3.03.tar.gz from http://distfiles.macports.org/cowsay
---> Verifying checksum(s) for cowsay
---> Extracting cowsay
---> Applying patches to cowsay
---> Configuring cowsay
---> Building cowsay
---> Staging cowsay into destroot
---> Installing cowsay @3.03_1
---> Activating cowsay @3.03_1
---> Cleaning cowsay
MacBook-Air:~ admin$ cowsay evill33t rulz
_______________
< evill33t rulz >
---------------
\ ^__^
\ (oo)\_______
(__)\ )\/\
||----w |
|| ||
MacBook-Air:~ admin$
is lion officially out yet?
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