Editing Fink (software)

{{Short description|Project to port and package open-source Unix software to macOS}}
{{About|the open source project||Fink (disambiguation){{!}}Fink}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2011}}

{{Infobox software
| name = Fink
| logo = FinkLogo.jpg
| screenshot = Fink-MacOSX-Terminal.png
| caption = Screenshot of Fink running in [[Terminal (macOS)|Terminal]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.finkproject.org}}
| genre = [[Package management system]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License]]
| released = 2000
| latest release version = 0.45.6
| latest release date = {{release date and age|2022|02|19}}<ref>{{GitHub|https://github.com/fink/fink/tags|Fink releases}}</ref>
| operating system = [[macOS]]
| programming language = [[Perl]]
}}

The '''Fink''' project is an effort to [[porting|port]] and package [[open-source software|open-source]] [[Unix]] programs to [[macOS]]. Fink uses [[dpkg]] and [[Advanced Packaging Tool|APT]] ([[Debian]]'s [[package management system]]), as well as its own frontend program, <code>fink</code> (which is implemented as a set of [[Perl module]]s).

== 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.

== History ==
The Fink project was started in December 2000 by German [[Hacker (academia)|hacker]] Christoph Pfisterer.
The name '''Fink''' is [[German language|German]] for [[finch]] and is a reference to the name of the macOS core, [[Darwin (operating system)|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.<ref>{{cite web |author=Pfisterer, Christian |title=Christoph Pfisterer resigns from the fink project. |url=http://lists.apple.com/archives/Studentdev/2001/Nov/msg00190.html |access-date=2008-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923062638/http://lists.apple.com/archives/Studentdev/2001/Nov/msg00190.html |archive-date=2008-09-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web| title=Fink Contributors |url=http://www.finkproject.org/people.php?phpLang=en |access-date=2013-03-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Organization of Fink |url=http://www.finkproject.org/organization.php#core |access-date=2013-03-07 }}</ref>

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 [[MacOS Monterey|Monterey]] is being worked on.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fink{{dash}}News|url=https://www.finkproject.org/news/index.php?phpLang=en|access-date=2021-12-30|website=www.finkproject.org}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [[Gentoo/Alt]]
* [[Homebrew (package management software)|Homebrew]]
* [[MacPorts]]
* [[Pkgsrc]]
* [[Cydia]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official|http://www.finkproject.org/}}

{{Package management systems}}

[[Category:Dpkg]]
[[Category:Free package management systems]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in Perl]]
[[Category:Perl software]]
[[Category:Utilities for macOS]]
[[Category:Software using the GNU General Public License]]