MacPorts

Name: MacPorts
Rating: 3 (7 reviews)
Author: MacPorts

Used MacPorts for Mac?

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MacPorts Analysis

AI Assisted Content · June 11, 2026

Not written by CNET Staff.

MacPorts is a free package management system designed for macOS that simplifies the installation and management of open-source software. It provides users with a robust command-line interface that allows for the easy installation of software packages and their dependencies. With MacPorts, users can access a vast repository of software, ensuring they can find and install the tools they need for development or other purposes.

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In addition to its extensive package collection, MacPorts offers users the ability to update and manage installed software efficiently. The system automatically handles dependencies, making it easier to install complex software without manual intervention. MacPorts is particularly beneficial for developers and technical users who require a reliable way to manage libraries and tools on their macOS systems.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: August 13, 2020

Latest update: June 11, 2026

Version: 2.6.3

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Mac

Operating System: Mac OS X

Additional Requirements

macOS Catalina
macOS Mojave
macOS High Sierra
macOS Sierra
OS X El Capitan
Apple Xcode

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 2,986

Downloads Last Week: 0

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User Reviews

3/5

7 User Votes

this is crap
Rufus JSeptember 17, 2008
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. It really doesn't work much like fink or BSD's Portage. Maybe it's supposed to, but it doesn't. So many packages are broken; dependencies fail to build for all kinds of reasons. A giant time waster. It's a shame some interesting software is offered and some software authors seem to rely on macports for their OS X releases. I for one do not buy the BS about installing macports wholly seperate fomr OS X. This requires the installation of sometimes enormous amounts of redundant software and prevents the convenient use of macports to install things to complie other sources against the way one can, seemlessly, with fink. This is a nice idea very poorly done.
Installing hangs...
Cattus ThraexMarch 15, 2008
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. Indeed, installing last version hangs... yet it is sufficient to force quit, restart, download Porticus and.. all is OK (1.67 PB with Leo). do not be so rude with its author, indeed installer hangs indefinitely, but seems a non-critical issue, after restart all seems OK. Or am I wrong?
Don't Install This from .pkg
mwarneFebruary 19, 2008
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. The .pkg installer doesn't work properly and leaves you with an unusable installation. I am now stuck because, despite uninstalling v 1.6.0, I can't now install any earlier version (which would work) and update. This is a SERIOUS pain in the backside.
Don't Install This from .pkg
mwarneFebruary 19, 2008
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. The .pkg installer doesn't work properly and leaves you with an unusable installation. I am now stuck because, despite uninstalling v 1.6.0, I can't now install any earlier version (which would work) and update. This is a SERIOUS pain in the backside.
Nice
anonymous3456December 14, 2005
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. Darwin ports is great.
DarwinPorts and Fink
amcgeeMay 7, 2005
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. DarwinPorts and Fink compliment each other nicely, and I don't think it's an either/or situation. Fink has many more available packages, a good graphical interface via FinkCommander, and the ease of binary installation via Debian's apt-get, whereas DarwinPorts has much more flexibility and many more package installation options, as well as being a more proper BSD-style package management system. I'm glad that DP finally has a smooth installer, for those less comfortable with CVS. Now it will be easier for more people to use them both, side-by-side. FYI, in order to insure that Fink and DarwinPorts coexist peacefully, the path to DarwinPorts should come before Fink. In order to do this, make sure the last lines in your .profile looks like this: test -r /sw/bin/init.sh && . /sw/bin/init.sh export PATH="/opt/local/bin:${PATH}" export MANPATH="/opt/local/share/man:${MANPATH}" export INFOPATH="/opt/local/share/info:${INFOPATH}"
If Fink frustrates you then try this
Hangnail--2008May 7, 2005
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. The Ports method of management has been around a while on the FreeBSD side and has been adopted by several linux distros as a way to manage packages. While I suggest you visit their site for a more technical detail I will let you know my newbie's experience. I wanted to install elinks to test web pages in a text only browser. I've had bad experiences with Fink but many people are extremely happy with fink so It may have been my not following detail that caused the problem. Someone mentioned the darwin ports so I went out there and read the instructions for installing it. worked great and I was able to get elinks up fairly quickly with full openssl. I say fairly quickly as you work with the source files and compile it localy. I think there is a way to just use binaries but from what I've seen, if yo pull source you tend to get the latest releases. You have to install the developer tools and make sure you install the x11 headers (a separate install package with the developer tools). But that is pretty simple. Overall I have found this to be a very solid and stable way to get unix software. This install package takes all the pain from the inital setup (other than installing xcode). There is no GUI but the web site has good docs and there are man pages if you know how to read that sort of thing. Someone has made a GUI to the ports. the first version was terrible but they have a newer one I haven't tried yet. Overall I am ecstatic with the ports and the system, once you learn it, seems pretty bullet proof

Developer’s Description

By MacPorts

Install various open-source software packages on Mac OS X.

The aim of the MacPorts project is to develop a second-generation system for the building, installation and management of third party software. MacPorts is probably best described by comparison: It's sort of like the FreeBSD ports collection or Fink in that it automates the process of building third party software for Mac OS X. MacPorts also tracks all dependency information for a given piece of software. In other words, it knows what it needs to build and install and in what order for the piece of software you want to work properly. MacPorts knows how to make, build and install the software to a specific location, meaning that software installed via MacPorts doesn't simply scatter itself all over the system or require user knowledge of dependencies in what order.

MacPorts

MacPorts Analysis

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User Reviews

this is crap

Installing hangs...

Don't Install This from .pkg

Don't Install This from .pkg

Nice

DarwinPorts and Fink

If Fink frustrates you then try this

Developer’s Description