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I want to install firefox-x11 but theres no repo in homebrew, only macports seems to have one, hence I'm at a loss how to get firefox-X11 on a system that relies on homebrew for OSS.

The way I'd solve this is:

  • install software with macports (Firefox-X11 in particular)
  • remove macports
  • install homebrew and still use the software installed by macports (firefox)

I fear this will not work.

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1 Answer

up vote 2 down vote

No - as removing macports will remove the software it installs. Macports )and Fink) are designed so that they use directories that only they update and control so that they have full control of what happens).

In this case however you can get to this stage.

  1. Remove Homwbrew or at least remove or rename /usr/local
  2. Install macports and check that the /opt/local/bin is at the end of your path
  3. Install firefox-xll
  4. Reinstall Homebrew or restore /usr/local

As /usr/local/bin is before /opt/local/bin in your path then you will get the Homebrew program before the macports one.

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based on the answers here superuser.com/questions/181337/…, are you sure it is safe to run both homebrew and macports on the same machine? – bneil Dec 18 '11 at 16:08
You can manage in some cases but in general no. Macports/fink won't compile if anything they might use is in /usr/local (hard coded in gcc) – Mark Dec 18 '11 at 22:36

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