Fink

Since 2008, Fink release version have advanced 29 times from 0.9.x (at this moment listed on MacUpdate) to 0.38.x. The latest releases 0.38.x adds support for OS X 10.10. --> http://www.finkproject.org/news/index.php Over 9000 Fink install packages have been updated for OS X 10.10 --> http://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/browse.php?dist_name=10.10 However, it should be noted, the Fink package manager is for users with enough knowledge to install XCode and runs scripts. --> http://www.finkproject.org/download/srcdist.php

Apparently all other sources are outdated on the net. I missed one line of text and wasted about 25 minutes... if you want to get fink installed on 10.6, just go here: http://www.finkproject.org/download/srcdist.php Too bad they can make comments, but not update the listing here with that link...

Damn! trying to update and now I am screwed. ( on PPC ) I did $sudo fink selfupdate and I got some crap about using the wrong version of gcc. that I needed to be using 4.0 , and I am using 4.0.1.. so it said try sudo gcc_select 4.0 I tried it and I got "You are already using gcc version 4.0 as the default compiler." What tha hell

I keep downloading this when really I should be updating using instructions at http://fink.sourceforge.net/download/upgrade.php. Also the link provided by MacUpdate currently only links to the PPC version. The intel one is at http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/fink/Fink-0.8.1-Intel-Installer.dmg?download

fink is fantastic and opens up a whole new world. I've only just discovered all this and i've got gimp plus some office applications open on my KDE Desktop :D Good stuff! Thank you to all the fink developers and all that help and support. Brilliant job - my thanks and respect.

I don't understand why people write reviews when they don't know what they're talking about. Fink does install from sources - not just binaries. Depending on your machine, installing from source can take a long time, and can chew up a lot of drive space in the mean time. Installing from source will never be as simple as installing a binary, because compilation depends upon a lot of factors - libraries, headers, etc. Fink goes a long way to making it simple, though.

A great idea except that it can't install from sources, only outdated binaries, making it useless. I don't understant why these developer spend hours creating good free software... no common user can use. It seems these Linux/Unix guys don't want people using their applications. Can't they make a decent installer? It is easier to use these applications on a PC (SUSE, Mandrake) than on OS X or on a Linux distro for PPC.

Can't install the last version of scribus, Fink says: Can't resolve dependency "gcc3.1" for package "xfree86-4.4.0-13" :-(

Amazing utility, very easy to use with FinkCommander. Stable in OS 10,3,5. Now it is easy to use great Linux apps like Scribus or xscorch ;-) Once again OS X rules, with the very best of Mac / Linux / Windows.

Great product, opens the door to a fantastic array of software. In my case with Evolution I can access Microsoft Exchange on my Mac. To make it easier try loading FinkCommander which adds a handy GUI interface http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/8128

A simple way to get useful software, but it's poorly documented, and there's no way to change the directory it uses from the weird nonstandard "/sw" to an appropriate place like "/usr/local/fink".

Absolutely essential for anyone with more than the most basic knowlege of or interest in OSX.

Is there a SIMPLE tutorial for this? Even the FAQ goes over my head I'm afraid. I installed a 0.5.x version, and am not sure how to safely install 0.6.1. I'm running 10.2.8 and would like to try GIMP. Do I need developer tools for this?

Brillant.. hum.. when we'll stop to wait for prdownloads.sourcegforge.net .. are they blocked??

I"m a newb to unix, and this is as easy as it gets! With finkcommander anyways...

Brilliant!

This utility is very powerful for managing unix or linux program installations. It does expect that the environment be clean, I did have some issues from manually built packages that left some GNU tools in the path, but once that was rectified it just runs. Well supported on a mail list

Wonderful way to get great software. Most of all this review is to counter-balance the idiocy of the anonymous reviewer.

DEFINITELY one of the sweetest summummbitches I seen'd ported for the *NIX part-o-'X'!!!

Helped me get the GIMP installed and running in about ten minutes!