Re: Experiences with pkgsrc on Macs?

["Steven M. Bellovin" <smb%cs.columbia.edu@localhost>]

On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:37:51 -0400
Amitai Schlair <schmonz%mkgsrc.org@localhost> wrote:

> Steven M. Bellovin wrote:
> 
> > How well does pkgsrc work on a Mac?  I just got one (mostly to deal
> > with Word and Powerpoint files that Openoffice doesn't handle well),
> > but of course need to add other software.  Should I use pkgsrc?
> > Macports?  Other choices?
> > 
> > (And, perhaps off-topic -- is there any way I can convert my exist
> > file MacOS system to handle mixed case, or do I have to reinstall
> > from CD?)
> 
> pkgsrc works pretty well on a Mac, and there are a handful of
> developers paying attention to it. Coming from pkgsrc on NetBSD, I've
> always found it much more comfortable than Fink or MacPorts.
> 
> We haven't documented or publicized this well enough -- mea culpa --
> but you don't need a case-sensitive filesystem for pkgsrc anymore.
> The occasional package may break, but OS X is popular enough that the
> number is dwindling of its own accord.

As of two days ago, the pkgsrc web page said you did, so it's not just
a PR issue...
> 
> I recently reinstalled my Mac Pro with a completely vanilla Leopard 
> (which is to say, case-insensitive), and plan to start doing bulk
> builds on it soon. Likewise with my dual G4.
> 
> Sure I'm biased, but I think you should use pkgsrc. :-)
> 
Hey -- familiarity is a very good argument. 



                --Steve Bellovin, http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~smb