Alistair Gallworthy wrote:

Is it possible to install both MacPorts and fink and run them side-by-side without conflict?

Yes, but it is not the default mode of installation... (i.e. you need to modify the default configuration)

For instance, I know that both systems install their own dependent utilities (like say python) and that both systems put those utilities in the PATH. That sounds like a recipe for conflict. Unless macports packages (for instance) religiously use absolute paths to refer to other macports packages they depend on, then I'd guess they would unintentionally call fink packages on occasion.

You will need to disable the part of your .profile that sets up the PATH for Fink and for MacPorts... Otherwise you _will_ run into conflicts with them. Instead, explicitly set the path to the one to use. i.e. When you need Fink, you'll run from /sw and when you need MacPorts, you'll run from /opt/local

I would like to transition to macports but I depend on so many fink packages right now it would be destabilizing to jump all at once.

I wouldn't recommend mixing and matching packages (programs, libraries, etc) from the two - at once. But you can have both installed at the same computer, provided that you only use one of them at a time ? I am currently using at least five package managers, but they each live (mostly) within their own prefix. --anders