Readers with experience using certain distributions of Linux or Fink under X11 on OS X will be familiar with the concept of package managers. Basically, a package manager is an application or service with allows users to download and install applications of their choosing from a set catalog of software residing on a remote server.
MacLibre is a new application developed as part of Google's Summer of Code project, and aims to bring the ease and efficiency of package management to OS X. MacLibre allows users to browse a library of Open Source software which they can then chose to download and install. Although the current selection of software options offered by MacLibre is fairly small compared to the overall Open Source offering for the Mac, I think its safe to expect the number to grow rapidly as developers learn of the existence of this great application.
[via UneasySilence]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-05-2006 @ 9:14AM
jim said...
this is cool and all but like most open source project why does there need to be 4 things trying to do one. we have fink, macports and now this. in my mind to have a visual package manager is a good thing but it should be able to integrate with already developed systems so that the developer can focus on the manager itself instead of the ports.
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9-05-2006 @ 9:33AM
AlMeister said...
Just what we need, another method of installing stuff. We already have the best install method; drag and drop (too bad all developers don't use it). And we also have the package installer. This way will just add inconsistancy to the process. Besides, this thing wants your admin password to do the install; not necessary.
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9-05-2006 @ 9:57AM
Stacey said...
Personally, I can see the reason for this on Linux, but for Mac OS X? I think the projects need to conform to the more standard way of installing Mac applications... drag the app to the Applications folder. Done. Bundle the dependencies and an .app package folder.
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9-05-2006 @ 11:24AM
duker said...
Installing isn't the only thing a package manger does. It also updates.
Sure you can install things from scratch quite easily on OS X. You can install things a bit less easily in Linux too. The great part about a package manager is that with two commands you can update all programs on your OS. I don't need to go to firefox.org and openoffice.org and yetanotheropensourceapplication.org. You just sync and update.
Imagine if software update didn't just update your Apple created software but all the software on your system, that's what a (good) package manager does.
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9-05-2006 @ 3:10PM
NitRam Den Gale said...
Don't forget about DarwinPorts...
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