Fink (software)
The Fink project is an effort to port and package open-source Unix programs to macOS. Fink uses dpkg and APT (Debian's package management system), as well as its own frontend program, fink (which is implemented as a set of Perl modules).
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2011) |
| Fink | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Screenshot of Fink running in Terminal | |
| Initial release | 2000 |
| Stable release | 0.45.6
/ February 19, 2022[1] |
| Written in | Perl |
| Operating system | macOS |
| Type | Package management system |
| License | GNU General Public License |
| Website | www.finkproject.org |
| Repository | |
The Fink project is an effort to port and package open-source Unix programs to macOS. Fink uses dpkg and APT (Debian's package management system), as well as its own frontend program, fink (which is implemented as a set of Perl modules).
Implementation
[edit]Fink features a binary distribution for quick and easy installation using APT, as well as a more extensive source distribution.[2] In addition to command-line tools for handling packages, the shareware app Phynchronicity provides a GUI.
Fink can be used to install newer versions of packages installed by macOS or to install packages not included in macOS by Apple edict. Fink stores all its data in the directory /opt/sw for newer macOS releases and /sw for macOS 10.14 and earlier[3] (although this can be changed if initially compiling fink itself from source code). This goes against the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard's recommendation to use the /usr/local prefix; the reasons given in the Fink FAQ are that other installers might overwrite Fink's files under /usr/local, and that having an entirely separate directory makes it easier to disable the binaries and libraries that Fink installs.[4] MacPorts, another macOS package manager, follows a similar approach by storing its data in /opt/local by default.[5] Within Fink's directory, a FHS-like layout (/sw/bin, /sw/include, /sw/lib, etc.) is used.
Fink creates a dedicated directory tree at /sw (or /opt/sw on newer macOS). This is essentially a "sandbox" for your Unix environment.[6]
History
[edit]The Fink project was started in December 2000 by German hacker Christoph Pfisterer. The name Fink is German for finch and is a reference to the name of the macOS core, Darwin; Charles Darwin's study of diversity among finches led him eventually to the concept of natural selection.
Christoph Pfisterer left the project in November 2001.[7] Since then, several people have stepped in and picked up support for Fink. As of March 2008, the project was managed by 6 administrators, 89 developers, and an active community. As of March 2014, the Fink core team were made up of nine active developers, who are responsible for the central management of the project and maintain the "essential" packages.[8][9]
The Fink community regularly adds support for the latest versions of macOS with their release. Latest Fink versions, starting with version 0.45.0, support up to MacOS Catalina. Support for MacOS Big Sur and Monterey is being worked on.[10]
Awards
[edit]- 2023 Open Science Award for Open Source Research Software in the category "Jury's Favourite" (Coup de cœur du jury) [11]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Fink releases on GitHub
- ^ See for example http://www.finkproject.org/faq/usage-fink.php question 5.7. The source distribution's package database is at http://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/ and by examining the details of an individual package it is possible to see which versions of macOS are supported, and whether a binary version is available.
- ^ "Fink – Home". www.finkproject.org. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
- ^ "Fink – F.A.Q – General". Retrieved 2009-01-23.
- ^ "FAQ – MacPorts". trac.macports.org. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
- ^ Southerton, Alan (February 2003). "Fink: Open Source for the Rest of Us". WAP Journal. 25 (1).
Installation is straightforward. It is essentially an automated process of downloading and compiling Unix source code into a new directory, /sw.
- ^ Pfisterer, Christian. "Christoph Pfisterer resigns from the fink project". Archived from the original on 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- ^ "Fink Contributors". Retrieved 2013-03-07.
- ^ "Organization of Fink". Retrieved 2013-03-07.
- ^ "Fink – News". www.finkproject.org. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
- ^ "The 2023 Open Science Free Research Software Awards". Ouvrir la Science. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
