PortAuthority provides a graphical user interface for the MacPorts package management system for OS X. MacPorts is a powerful command-line tool for installing and updating a variety of Unix-based applications for the Mac. Its power, though, comes at the cost of some complexity; in the past the only way to utilize MacPorts was to type in various commands into the Mac's Terminal application, which can be intimidating for those users without a Unix background. PortAuthority makes the process of installing Unix software easy.
What's New
Version 6.1:
- Improvements in Sparkle update engine.
- Fix OS X 10.9 Mavericks bug with running command with elevated privileges.
- UI improvements.
Requirements
- Intel, 64-bit processor
- OS X 10.9 or later
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PortAuthority provides a graphical user interface for the MacPorts package management system for OS X. MacPorts is a powerful command-line tool for installing and updating a variety of Unix-based applications for the Mac. Its power, though, comes at the cost of some complexity; in the past the only way to utilize MacPorts was to type in various commands into the Mac's Terminal application, which can be intimidating for those users without a Unix background. PortAuthority makes the process of installing Unix software easy.
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Xipper reviewed on 16 Sep 2011
The app just crashes anytime I try to install anything, I can either wait 1-hour and force quit to try and use this "tool" (that I paid for), or I can simply run the command myself and have it actually complete the install in 5 minutes.
This is on Lion, but the developer claims the latest version is compatible.
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Don't pay for this crap.
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http://leoofborg.tumblr.com/post/8790218908/pallet-app-macports-on-lion
And PortAuthority, at least for me bombs. I posted a support request to the dev at his forums here:
http://www.codebykevin.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=643
To be fair, Kevin *has* tried to be helpful. But on two machines (a Mini & my MBP), the fact is the the official GUI 'just works'.. and PortAuthority requires 'more tweaking' -- something I'd rather not bother with when the offical GUI is there, free, and working.
-Leo
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@Bueller_007: Pallet is a nice, lightweight GUI for MacPorts, but it's far from perfect. I can crash it quite easily trying to install a port with variants. (PA doesn't attempt this, because I've never figured out an elegant way to present variants to the user--my view is that if the user is advanced enough to want a variant, then he/she can navigate the command-line.)
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I am just never sure all this code written up for GUI's is ever necessary when there is a really well done simple shell method. I agree though each to their own. Go for it.
Friendly? I am not being funny really some of us old guys use the terminal more than GUI's as we find it friendly. Oh I am so old lol. :(
I remember punch cards I hope that puts things in perspective here. ;)
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http://www.macupdate.com/search.php?arch=all&keywords=porticus&os=macosx
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I've tried both and I must say that PortAuthority is more solid. Porticus always gives me build options that don't even apply to the package that I want to install. Granted it's not a Cocoa application or freeware, but it works very well and has a very responsive developer. Some of my suggestions have already been implemented!
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Anonymous reviewed on 04 Oct 2005
Anonymous reviewed on 03 Oct 2005
For example, downloading it and placing it in Applications will result in it hanging on launch. The application needs to be inside a folder named "Port Authority", inside Applications in order to work properly. Also, sometimes it won't accept your password (as in, you can't physically enter it in the password field).
Since it IS still a beta program, none of this should surprise you. If you prefer GUI to the command line, you should give this a try.