Rolfs Mac-OSX-Site (english translation)

Official Apple-Site Old Mac-Site at Uni

Setting up MacOSX for programming

With new Macs (e.g. "MacBook Air") following steps are needed:

• After common basic installation select "software update..." in the apple menu. This will need approximately 30 minutes. Then at least version 10.6.6 is installed.
• Xcode must now be downloaded with costs (1) from "App Store". This takes several hours because "Xcode 4" is now almost 5 gigabyte!
• After this go to folder "Applications" and click to "Install Xcode". This makes the installation. The installation-programm has an error (at least in german version), resulting in doing noting anymore after about 99%. Anyway the installation will be finished.

Following steps can be done also without Xcode installed:

• Not really necessary but just like I do it: Terminal and X11 from "Applications/systemutility" (german: "Programme/Dienstprogramme") pulling to the Dock. In Systemesettings select Dock position to the left. Removing not used symbols from the Dock.
• Start Terminal and make a new folder "bin". This can be done by typing "mkdir bin".
• Download xtekplot1-macosx-bin.tar.gz
• In Terminal typing the following commands:

  ls bin/        ;to check if folder bin is here, otherwise create it
  ls .profile    ;to check if you have it already
  cd Downloads/
  tar zxvf xtekplot1-macosx-bin.tar.gz
  cd xtekplot1-macosx-bin
  mv bin/* $HOME/bin/
  cp .profile $HOME/   ;if .profile not yet here
  cd
  pwd
  echo $PATH
  emacs .profile   ;or any other text editor
  

• Customize in .profile the following lines:

  export PATH=.:~/bin:$PATH          ;if not set like this anyway
  export h=/Users/Name/xtekplot1/h   ;adapt /Users/Name appropriate to the result of "pwd"
  

  For saving and leaving emacs use <ctrl><x> <ctrl><c>
• Restart Terminal to activate the settings in .profile

The following steps works only when Xcode installed or alternative developing tools (2):

• Download xtekplot1.tar.gz
• In Terminal typing the following commands:

  cd Downloads/
  tar zxvf xtekplot1.tar.gz
  mv xtekplot1 $HOME/
  cd $h
  emacs xtekplot1.cc
  

• In xtekplot1.cc the line UNIX should be commented out and MACOSX activated:

  //#define UNIX
  #define MACOSX
  

• Typing "make" should now result in translating xtekplot1 and a few little test programs.
  The program "keyshow" is used to check key presses and menu functions of xtekplot1.
  The program "checkrequester" to check file select function.
  The Program "checkgrein" to check input with coss hairs, and there is a menu to check the german Umlaute.

• Trying more test examples:

  cd $h
  cd ../beispiele/
  make
  ls -trl
  hanoi
  xvollbildtest   ;some fullscreen tests
  

  Dont worry about the error "make: g77: No such file or directory". This will only be needed if you want to program in Fortran.
  If hanoi dont work: try beispiel1 until beispiel3c.

• Trying out the really fullscreen modus:
  Set the Dock to fading out. Restart X11 and set in the menu "Settings..." the fullscreen modus.
  Then again "xvollbildtest"
  To go back from the fullscreen X11 use the keys: ctrl+cmd+a

Remarks

(2) It should be possible to install gcc (C-Compiler, C++-Compiler and Linker) and make from the Opensource sources.

Installation of Diasort (my picture viewing program)