OT: Command-line blues (ImageMagick)

[Graham Samuel]

Thanks Warren, this is good stuff. As my primary target is Windows I think I can use existing binaries, but of course I remain interested in a Mac version, which I have now made work experimentally. 

I did not realise that MacPorts will create a 'fully functional binary', so thanks very much for that info. I have some hopes after all for my geography teachers.

<rant> If this is the case, then why the heck haven't the producers of ImageMagick gone so far as to do this? After all they have produced a perfectly functional .exe of the latest version for Windows users. Maybe in their Unix-type world the idea of running MacPorts, which involves installing the whole of Xcode on a Mac (several Gb) and then waiting over an hour for that program to create a viable version of IM, is all in a day's work, but it seems odd to say the least if one's motivation for using IM is simply to convert some graphic files from one format to another… as I have said elsewhere there seems to be a different philosophy at work among *nix jocks compared to us simple-minded users of consumer-level environments.</rant>

Thanks again

Graham

On Sat, 29 Oct 2011 11:08:37 -0500, Warren Samples <warren at warrensweb.us> wrote:

> On 10/28/2011 07:33 AM, Graham Samuel wrote:
>> [As an aside I would NOT recommend IM on a Mac to anyone who has only worked within a GUI environment. The installation of IM for Mac took longer (and appeared to use more resources) than installing Lion on my Mac, even if you take into account my making a complete clone of my hard disk before the Lion installation started. My machine is now stuffed with Xcode, MacPorts, countless components of IM, and IM itself. If there is an uninstall process I have not discovered it and probably never will. So, IMHO, avoid. In contrast, there is a simple .exe file available for the PC. No geography teacher would ever be willing to do the Mac install, although doubtless many of them are very able, so there will never be a Mac version of my app.]
> 
> 
> Graham,
> 
> I see you found the Windows binary installers. Good! About Macports; 
> Macports will allow you to export fully functioning binaries which you 
> can supply to your users for simple install.
> 
> http://guide.macports.org/#introduction ("Allows you to create 
> pre-compiled binary installers of ported applications to quickly install 
> software on remote computers without compiling from source code.")
> 
> and
> 
> http://guide.macports.org/#using.binaries.binary-packages
> 
> This means you could offer precompiled binaries with simple 
> installation, in a known location, for every version of OS X you are 
> able to set up Macports in and that your app is available for.
> 
> To ensure compliance with the GPL, you may need to make this a separate 
> download from your app and provide a way for your users to access the 
> source. (An easy to find link in your documentation should be adequate.)
> 
> You can uninstall Macports by following directions found here:
> 
> http://guide.macports.org/#installing.macports.uninstalling
> 
> Best,
> 
> Warren
>