PortAuthority 2.0 brings Unix apps to Macs
updated 08:55 am EDT, Wed April 25, 2007
PortAuthority 2.0 released
Code by Kevin has released PortAuthority 2.0, a graphical user interface for the MacPorts package management system for Mac OS X. MacPorts is a powerful command-line tool for installing and updating a variety of Unix-based applications for the Mac. "Its power, though, comes at the cost of some complexity; in the past the only way to utilize MacPorts was to type in various commands into the Mac's Terminal application, which can be intimidating for those users without a Unix background." Version 2.0 brings a significantly redesigned interface for greater ease-of-use; the ability to browse categories using a hierarchical display; a built-in history of search terms; and streamlined keyboard shortcuts.
The shareware PortAuthority offers a user-friendly graphical interface to MacPorts. Using a familiar combination of windows, icons, and menus, PortAuthority users can search, install, update, and remove MacPorts programs and the MacPorts infrastructure itself. Full licenses are $20, while a 30-day demo is available online. Version 2.0 is a free upgrade for registered users. PortAuthority is a Universal Binary and requires Mac OS X 10.4.
