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 FinkCommander - 0.5.5GUI front end for Fink packaging system. |
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Key to Types of Feedback:
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Featured Reviews
FinkCommander Universal Binary Build - Version: 0.5.4, 3/26/2006 09:36AM PST
(1 of 1 users found this comment useful)
charleslo
For those who is using an Intel Mac, here is unofficial Universal Binary of FinkCommander 0.5.4: http://homepage.mac.com/charleslo/
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- FinkCommander Universal Binary Build
0.5.4 crashes on startup - Version: 0.5.4, 10/5/2005 03:13AM PST
Rawtext - Arts&Bits
Had some Fink-trouble when switching to 0.8.0. The update of Fink took hours to complete and seemed to be flawed. No FinkCommander would run after the update and I blamed it to Fink itself, so I deleted /sw and did a clean 0.8.0-install. FinkCommander 0.5.3 (which comes with the 0.8.0 package) is now working fine. FinkCommander 0.5.4 still crashes on startup.
dissatisfaction is a fair comment - Version: 0.5.3, 9/29/2004 10:15AM PST
(2 of 3 users found this comment useful)
grikdog
If you look back over the comment history, you find a lot of "works fine here" and not a lot extra. The truth is Fink is a HUGE puzzle for a newcomer, and while FinkCommander is a valiant effort to tame the beast, it's not extremely successful explaining Fink to newbies. This is a valid objection to most freeware - the support team absconds when the messy details of field history start flooding in. MOST people will never have a problem, and it's far easier to ignore a nightmare if no money has changed hands, if the programmer has graduated and has to find a real job, if support and maintenance has become a bloody chore. Been there, done that. I, too, have found both Fink and FinkCommander challenging, especially when there's a lot of history in an installed version, and something new comes along. It breaks. End of story. Keep backups, back out of your problems, go forward slowly and ask yourself in your darkest hours, "What would the Lone Ranger do?"
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An improved product 
- Version: 0.5.3, 9/25/2004 05:56AM PST
(4 of 4 users found this comment useful)
macgruder
I remember downloading this a while ago, and finding it not very useful (bugs?).
Anyway, revisiting here's my overview:
Bearing in mind that interacting with Fink from the terminal is very easy (just 3 or 4 commands), one has to wonder what is the benefit of FC.
1. Well, the package view is very easy to see and organize. This alone makes the app worth having. You can immediately see what versions are installed, compare binaries with sources, do quick searches etc.
2. For people who can't remember the commands like 'sudo fink install foo' then Fink Commander let's you select the appropriate command from the menu. Makes life easy.
One RECOMMENDATION:
When updating with Fink Commander, choose the 'run in Terminal' option. The reason for this is that sometimes an install or update will need a confirmation, and it's a lot easier to do this if you are already in the terminal (for beginners: hit "Return" is generally good).
The only negative is the documentation. Fink Commander is really aimed at people not so comfortable in the Terminal (although it is useful for advanced users too), yet the Help is worded in such a way that it assumes you understand a lot. ie. it talks to the precisely the audience who need FC the least. e.g. "Same as install, but will install the package via dpkg(8) even when it is already installed. "
However, overall an excellent piece of software. I fail to understand the attitude of people who call something like this 'junk'.
Anyway, revisiting here's my overview:
Bearing in mind that interacting with Fink from the terminal is very easy (just 3 or 4 commands), one has to wonder what is the benefit of FC.
1. Well, the package view is very easy to see and organize. This alone makes the app worth having. You can immediately see what versions are installed, compare binaries with sources, do quick searches etc.
2. For people who can't remember the commands like 'sudo fink install foo' then Fink Commander let's you select the appropriate command from the menu. Makes life easy.
One RECOMMENDATION:
When updating with Fink Commander, choose the 'run in Terminal' option. The reason for this is that sometimes an install or update will need a confirmation, and it's a lot easier to do this if you are already in the terminal (for beginners: hit "Return" is generally good).
The only negative is the documentation. Fink Commander is really aimed at people not so comfortable in the Terminal (although it is useful for advanced users too), yet the Help is worded in such a way that it assumes you understand a lot. ie. it talks to the precisely the audience who need FC the least. e.g. "Same as install, but will install the package via dpkg(8) even when it is already installed. "
However, overall an excellent piece of software. I fail to understand the attitude of people who call something like this 'junk'.
Works great on Panther... - Version: 0.5.3, 4/18/2004 10:42PM PST
(2 of 2 users found this comment useful)
damoncampagna
Fink Commander works great with Panther, as did 0.5.2., and I think Apple should include Fink Commander (and Fink) with the Dev Tools package.
I don't even use the CLI on my Mandrake box for package management, I use KPackage. When a tool is this good for OS X, why not use it?
I don't even use the CLI on my Mandrake box for package management, I use KPackage. When a tool is this good for OS X, why not use it?
Works Great! - Version: 0.5.3, 4/18/2004 08:55PM PST
(2 of 2 users found this comment useful)
OS X Trainer
rkleim - I don't know what the problem is - it works fine with Panther (10.3.3) just like 0.5.2 did. That wa a pretty vemenous attack, especially considering it is a 0. version of freeware. If you are truly an experienced unix/linux user, just use the CLI. No need to beat up the developer.
Of course, the fact that it works like a charm makes your review look goofy. Save the poison for commerical products. Thanks.
Of course, the fact that it works like a charm makes your review look goofy. Save the poison for commerical products. Thanks.
FinkCommander works fine with Panther ! - Version: 0.5.3, 4/18/2004 08:50PM PST
(2 of 2 users found this comment useful)
patrekur
Just wanted to report that what rklein is complaining about just is NOT TRUE!
FinkCommander works absolutely fine with Panther!
FinkCommander works absolutely fine with Panther!
Doesn't work with Panther - developer uninterested - Version: 0.5.2, 3/30/2004 07:27AM PST
(1 of 9 users found this comment useful)
rkleim
After a huge amount of work trying to get this junk to work under Panther, I have had to give up. The developer's website seems totally uninterested in making this product work. What was a very useful tool under Jaguar is now an embarrasment to whoever wrote it. they leave the users to themselves to figure out how to make it work, but I am an experienced unix/linux user, and I have read all the newsgroups and other places, and I have to say - IT JUST DOESN'T WORK!!! Of course, like everything, it MIGHT work for you, but from what I see it's doubtful. I don't think the developers have a clue how to fix it. So I guess it's back to command line fink. Bummer.
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Malformed URL...correct link: - Version: 0.5.2, 3/17/2004 05:07PM PST
damoncampagna
The URL is screwed up -- the correct one to Sourceforge is:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/finkcommander/FinkCommander_0.5.2.dmg?download
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/finkcommander/FinkCommander_0.5.2.dmg?download
download link error - Version: 0.5.2, 3/17/2004 10:11AM PST
mpgomezold
the download URL is fudged. the update is there, though.
