CompilingMacOsX

Using MacPorts

1. Install Xcode tools from the App Store
2. Download and install MacPorts
3. Edit the MacPorts variants config (optional).
   Add this line to /opt/local/etc/macports/variants.conf

   -x11 +quartz

4. In Terminal (Applications>Utilities>Terminal) type

   sudo port selfupdate
   sudo port install \
        cmake cairo boehmgc intltool libxslt lcms2 popt boost \
        poppler gsl adwaita-icon-theme gdl3 gtkmm3 libsoup \
        -x11 +quartz
   

5. In Terminal, get Inkscape

   git clone --recurse-submodules git@gitlab.com:inkscape/inkscape.git
   

6. And build inkscape

   # use a clean MacPorts environment (optional)
   LIBPREFIX="/opt/local"
   export PATH="$LIBPREFIX/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin"
   
   # where to build and install
   PREFIX="$PWD/install-prefix"
   mkdir build
   cd build
   
   cmake \
       -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="$LIBPREFIX" \
       -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="$PREFIX" \
       -DWITH_OPENMP=OFF \
       ..
   
   make install
   

7. Run Inkscape

   $PREFIX/bin/inkscape
   

Speed up Installation

You can use ccache (sudo port install ccache) to speed up re-compilation. Also, ninja (sudo port install ninja) is a faster alternative to make. Modify your call to cmake like this:

cmake \
       -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER_LAUNCHER=ccache \
       -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_LAUNCHER=ccache \
       -G Ninja \
       # more cmake options here

ninja
ninja install

Using Homebrew

The Inkscape CI job uses homebrew, see .gitlab-ci.yml

Misc

This page contains outdated information and needs to be updated.

Extension Python modules

In case you are using a Python version installed through MacPorts do a search for both modules and install the ones suitable for the Python version activated within MacPorts.

port search lxml numpy

For further info refer to the Getting Effects Working section of this wiki.

Creating an .app bundle

TODO

Creating a disk image to distribute Inkscape

TODO

Links

User Examples

• Adam Strzeleki has outlined some improvements to this process on the Inkscape email list. See his screenshot from January 10, 2008 here.
• JiHO has a video of his builds here and here.
• Mac OS X native (aqua), PPC-only, Tiger-only build of 0.47, can be retrieved here: [1]. NOT FOR PRODUCTIVE USE - JUST TESTING! - (Nevertheless I'm doing quite a bit productive work on it… (-;)

Apple Documentation

• Introduction to Runtime Configuration Covers the Info.plist files, Preferences, Environment variables and has a list of the most important Properties that the Property List should contain.

Packaging

• Sveinbjorn Thordarson's Website The author of Platypus, the Script Exec wrapper that launches the Inkscape binary.
• Creating OS X application bundles step by step Covers the bundle concepts, copying libraries into the bundle, editing libraries with the install_name_tool, the Info.plist file and adding an icon.
• Bringing your Java Application to Mac OS X I would regard this a little dated, and the detail is (unsurprisingly) Java-related, but it is a gentle introduction to the role of the .app bundle and give a most clear account of how to create one.
• The Gimp .app Howto This is a very bare document, and would be of little help to you if you were new to making packages. Note that it seems to refer to a more mature Clipboard technique and Online help than we currently have; and we ought to move to parity in these areas.

See also

• Compiling Inkscape
• Notes on Packaging for OS X
• https://github.com/valerioa/Inkscape-MacOS-Curated-Build