MacPorts is an application that allows you to install and remove software packages, referred to as ports (thus the name). It’s fairly straight forward. To get started, first download the latest version here. Once downloaded run the installer. At the first screen, click Continue.
Next, read the ReadMe and click Continue again.
Next, read the license agreement at the License Agreement Screen. Click Continue and then Agree if you agree to the license agreement.
Finally, choose the location of your install or just click on the Install button to install it into the standard location (/opt/local).
Once the installer is finished click on the Finish button to close out the installer. Now cd into the /opt/local/bin directory of your system. Here, you will find the port command. First, let’s update the ports to the latest and greatest:
./port -d selfupdate
Now that we’ve done that we’ll be able to use port to install and uninstall packages. To install packages:
./port install MYPACKAGE
To uninstall packages:
./port uninstall MYPACKAGE
Later, to update a package to its latest and greatest:
./port upgrade MYPACKAGE
To update all of your installed ports at once:
./port upgrade installed
To search for packages:
./port search MYSTRING (where you replace MYSTRING with the one you’d like to use)
To check dependencies:
./port deps foo
To list all the ports:
./port list
To build an actual pkg file from a port:
./port pkg MYPACKAGE
Once installed, you can also use tools such as PortAuthority to visually browse the repository and install ports.
