Fink features a binary distribution for quick and easy installation using APT, as well as a more extensive source distribution. In addition to
command-line tools for handling packages, the
shareware app Phynchronicity provides a
GUI. Fink can be used to install newer versions of packages installed by macOS or to install packages not included in macOS by Apple edict. Fink stores all its data in the directory /opt/sw for newer macOS releases and /sw for macOS 10.14 and earlier (although this can be changed if initially compiling fink itself from source code). This goes against the
Filesystem Hierarchy Standard's recommendation to use the /usr/local
prefix; the reasons given in the Fink FAQ are that other installers might overwrite Fink's files under /usr/local, and that having an entirely separate directory makes it easier to disable the binaries and libraries that Fink installs.
MacPorts, another macOS package manager, follows a similar approach by storing its data in /opt/local by default. Within Fink's directory, a FHS-like layout (/sw/bin, /sw/include, /sw/lib, etc.) is used. Fink creates a dedicated directory tree at /sw (or /opt/sw on newer macOS). This is essentially a "sandbox" for your Unix environment. == History ==