Editing Fink (software) (section)

== Implementation ==
Fink features a binary distribution for quick and easy installation using APT, as well as a more extensive source distribution.<ref>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.</ref> In addition to [[Command line interface|command-line]] tools for handling packages, the [[shareware]] app Phynchronicity provides a [[Graphical user interface|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 <code>/opt/sw</code> for newer macOS releases and <code>/sw</code> for macOS 10.14 and earlier<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fink{{dash}}Home|url=https://www.finkproject.org/index.php|access-date=2021-09-02|website=www.finkproject.org}}</ref> (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 <code>/usr/local</code> [[prefix (computer science)|prefix]]; the reasons given in the Fink FAQ are that other installers might overwrite Fink's files under <code>/usr/local</code>, and that having an entirely separate directory makes it easier to disable the binaries and libraries that Fink installs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.finkproject.org/faq/general.php | title=Fink – F.A.Q – General | access-date=2009-01-23}}</ref> [[MacPorts]], another macOS package manager, follows a similar approach by storing its data in <code>/opt/local</code> by default.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FAQ – MacPorts|url=https://trac.macports.org/wiki/FAQ#defaultprefix|access-date=2021-12-30|website=trac.macports.org}}</ref> Within Fink's directory, a FHS-like layout (<code>/sw/bin</code>, <code>/sw/include</code>, <code>/sw/lib</code>, etc.) is used.