Existing users, 
A: Because Apple didn't augment it to work with Mac OS X.
I figured providing something a bit more descriptive than 'run away' might be helpful for inquiring minds.
Simply installing an update of CUPS into Mac OS X, as described in previous posts, will DAMAGE your ability to print in Mac OS X. CUPS is NOT simply a drop-in program for any version of Mac OS X. Apple have to toss in coding of their own to make CUPS work properly for the Mac platform.
So, if you don't know exactly what to do with a CUPS update, just leave the thing alone. Do not read the documentation and get some vague idea that installing the update into Mac OS X might actually do something useful. It won't. Expect the absolute worst, specifically having to reinstall your version of Mac OS X from scratch. There are lots of Open Source apps you can easily update into Mac OS X. This ain't one of them, no way, no how.
Suggestion: Instead go read about, download and install the latest stable version of Gutenprint for Mac OS X. It's not going to hurt anything.
CUPS
Souce code for the Common UNIX printing system.
Version: 1.4rc1
Q: So why should you be SCARED of a CUPS update?
Feedback Type: Review
Contributed by: zunipus Wednesday, February 20 2008 @ 12:00 AM PST
Product Platform: MacOSX
Used Product For: Over One Year
Recommend Product: NO
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Comments
Q: So why should you be SCARED of a CUPS update? - MeV
I installed a version of CUPS (1.20, I think) about a year ago. It broke printing after every Apple Security Update since then. Even if Apple "owns" CUPS, the version that's out there for the rest of the world isn't the same as the one that Apple incorporates into it's own updates. I had to backup and wipe my system and do a fresh install to get stability back. It's not a big problem to have to reinstall CUPS 1.20 (glad I kept a copy) after every Security Update, but it is a pain. When CUPS was well-integrated with 10.3 this wasn't that much of a problem. Now that Apple's own version of CUPS is part of their security updates, I'd steer clear. I like having stuff "just work" after updates. I still backup prior to applying them, but they are more stable since I did a reload. I thought that was Microsoft's answer to everything. In this case, it worked well for me. It just took 2 days out of my life (auditing, backing up, reloading, and reinstalling everything).No need to be scared. Just think of the public sector CUPS as added to make MacOS X more wobbly. Your call on if you want that instability.
Tuesday, April 01 2008 @ 10:46 PM PDT
Q: So why should you be SCARED of a CUPS update? - A. Nony Mouse
Yes and no. Since this is an Apple product and some of the fixes specifically point out Mac issues I'll say that it was written partially with Mac OS in mind. However it is Open Source and meant to work with many systems that can compile it. If you compile a piece of software you're pulling code written for your platform. If that code doesn't exist then you won't be able to compile. Make sense?OS X is supported and since 1.3.3 Leopard has supported it using the GUI- not just the web GUI. The thing people should keep in mind is that the Open Source community is about development and going where no man has gone before- CUPS is such a product. When you give something like this to Apple what you get is a static version that may not see an update for several point releases. There weren't CUPS enhancements added to OS X (10.4) for quite some time which is why the OS' GUI didn't function properly with the new features, The web GUI was fine.
This product shouldn't be listed as an everyday update for your system, it is appropriate for: File/Print Servers or Web & Software development. It ay also fall under Tweaks and Enhancements.
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Wednesday, February 20 2008 @ 12:00 AM PST