Hi all,

I have installed FPC 2.2.2 and Lazarus, both "Installed ok". I'm shamed to say this, but I can't even find the applications. (first time apple user) :-(
The only thing I found is in folder Developer\Documentation\Free Pascal Compiler\ ...pdf
Did I do something wrong ?

Paul

Paul wrote

I have installed FPC 2.2.2 and Lazarus, both "Installed ok". I'm shamed to say this, but I can't even find the applications. (first time apple user) :-(

The FPC installation on Mac OS X does not behave in any way like that of a typical Mac program, but rather like that of a typical unix program.

The only thing I found is in folder Developer\Documentation\Free Pascal Compiler\ ...pdf Did I do something wrong ?

You did not read the file "Getting Started.rtf" on the installation disk image, nor the "Quick start - Mac OS X/Darwin" of the file ReadMe.txt in the same location.

Jonas

I usually have Lazarus from subversion in my home dir and build that, and I would recommend this method instead, because the 0.9.25 subversion has a native Carbon GUI, and the stable 0.9.24 uses a much worse X11 and Gtk based GUI.

But, if you whish to run the X11 based GUI start X11 and try issuing "lazarus" in the command line

For the next version I hope we will have a much better installer, with an application bundle.

I printed an read it prior to installing.
I've asked a collegue to come and check it, but he can't get it running either.
We couldn't figure out the difference between methods 1 and 2. It should be installed though: entering fpc in Terminal shows it We're both Windows-only developers though...

Paul

FPC is just a compiler, like dcc.exe. "Getting it to run" involves typing "fpc" followed by a source file.

We couldn't figure out the difference between methods 1 and 2.

Method 1 is what you have done. Method 2 is if you are using fink (which you aren't, unless you downloaded and installed it).

It should be installed though: entering fpc in Terminal shows it

This means that you got FPC up and running.

We're both Windows-only developers though...

As for Lazarus, it is installed in a completely non-standard location for a GUI app: /usr/local/share/lazarus.app (if I remember correctly). It would be better if it were installed either in /Applications or / Developer/Applications instead, so you can find it like any other application. Another useful addition would be for its installer to open up the containing folder after it's installed (by adding a postflight script with the "open" command), so you don't have to go hunting for it.

For help with Lazarus specifically you may want to use the Lazarus list though: http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/mailman/listinfo/ lazarus (but you can ask here as well).

Jonas

Felipe Monteiro de Carvalho wrote

I usually have Lazarus from subversion in my home dir and build that, and I would recommend this method instead, because the 0.9.25 subversion has a native Carbon GUI, and the stable 0.9.24 uses a much worse X11 and Gtk based GUI.

The "Geting Started.rtf" distributed with FPC 2.2.2 says this:

• If you come from Delphi, you may want to check out Lazarus instead for a more familiar environment: http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org (until Lazarus 0.9.26 or later is released, you may want to download a snapshot from the following page for an optimal experience: http://www.hu.freepascal.org/lazarus/)

There's no need to build anything from svn this way.

Jonas

I had installed Lazarus also, but I can't find it either. I'll need to buy a book 'using Mac OS/X' first, the doc shipped with the iMac are .. nothing.
Maybe there is a userguide.pdf available, but studying from a screen is not my kind of thing.

Paul

Paul wrote

I had installed Lazarus also, but I can't find it either.

In the Finder, type cmd-shift-g (or menu Go and then "Go to Folder..."), and type /usr/local/share/lazarus. You should find the Lazarus application there. The reason that you don't find stuff located there by default via the GUI (you can use an advanced search to also search those locations), is that regular applications are not supposed to be installed there. Only Unix-based stuff lives there normally, and people using that normally use the command line.

I'll need to buy a book 'using Mac OS/X' first, the doc shipped with the iMac are .. nothing. Maybe there is a userguide.pdf available, but studying from a screen is not my kind of thing.

Such books are unlikely help you with getting Lazarus running, as Lazarus does not (yet) behave like any other Mac app in many respects (it's currently a hybrid combining various Windows, Unix and some Mac conventions in different areas). That said, a book that focusses on the Unix-underpinnings of Mac OS X would certainly be useful if you have no prior Linux/Unix-experience.

Jonas

Ok thanks,

I get an error though:
Library not loaded: /sw/lib/libglib-1.2.0.dylib
Are there any other packages to install then ?

the Unix-underpinnings of Mac OS X would certainly be useful if you have no prior Linux/Unix-experience.

which I don't need it for just one application for the moment, maybe later others will follow.
But most likely, I'll need to convert that application to WinCE/Symbian/Linux first
The reason I want to use FPC/Lazarus.

Paul

It's probably best to install a Lazarus snapshot from http://www.hu.freepascal.org/lazarus/ instead of Lazarus 0.9.24(which you have now). They do not have any external dependencies anymore (and reportedly many other enhancements as well).

It's probably indeed easier first port it to WinCE (since that's done using the Win32 version of Lazarus) to just get used to the Lazarus IDE and the FPC compiler. Next up is probably Linux since Lazarus has existed for quite a bit longer there than on Mac OS X, and finally Mac OS X.

Jonas

This needs fpc and fpcsrc.
Is fpcsrc needed by default (i did not install it), so this may be the problem I have now ?

It's probably indeed easier first port it to WinCE (since that's done using the Win32 version of Lazarus) to just get used to the Lazarus IDE and the FPC compiler. Next up is probably Linux since Lazarus has existed for quite a bit longer there than on Mac OS X, and finally Mac OS X.

You're right, but it's not my decision and I have to do as I'm told

Paul

Paul wrote on zo, 31 aug 2008:

What exactly is "the problem you have now"? fpcsrc is mainly needed for code completion and related features in Lazarus, as far as I know.

Jonas

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Now I get "Free Pascal compiler not found" when Lazarus starts although it exists.

Paul

Paul wrote

Now I get "Free Pascal compiler not found" when Lazarus starts although it exists.

Check the "Compiler path" in Environment->Environment Options. It should read something like /usr/local/bin/ppc386

Jonas

/usr/local/bin/ppc386
it'wasn't listed in the dropdown box.
I closed Lazarus (still open from yesterday) and now I can't find lazarus anymore.
I understood that I have to add the directories manually in a console application or terminal, a return to the DOS age.
I need to get a book using OS X first, because this leads to nowhere. It won't be before weekend though.
Anyway, while Lazarus was open, I saw bugs in the editor: the last character of each line was written over the previous character. Form = class(TFor) instead of Form=class(TForm)
en; instead of end;
Looks like a bug ..

Paul

You should not compare DOS and a Terminal :)

Paul wrote

/usr/local/bin/ppc386 it'wasn't listed in the dropdown box.

You can type it in. I don't know what exactly is listed in the default dropdown menu and why.

I closed Lazarus (still open from yesterday) and now I can't find lazarus anymore.

Type cmd-shift-g in the Finder. In the dialog box that appears, type / usr/local/share/lazarus. You'll find the application there. You can create an alias to it (shortcut in Windows terms) by holding down cmd and option (= cmd and alt) and dragging the Lazarus application icon anywhere you want. Then you won't have to remember its installation location anymore when you want to use it again.

I understood that I have to add the directories manually in a console application or terminal, a return to the DOS age.

No, you don't, except if you want to the command line stuff. And DOS was actually a partial imitation of Unix, not the other way around.

I need to get a book using OS X first, because this leads to nowhere.

As I said, it won't help you in particular with these issues, because Lazarus is not behaving like an OS X app at this time.

It's because Lazarus by default selects a variable rather than a fixed width font, and its editor cannot deal with that (at least the Carbon one can't). I believe this was fixed in more recent versions, but if you first started an older version it probably stored the font name in the preferences.

To change it to a properly displayed font, go to Environment->Editor Options, click on the Display tab and set it to Monaco (if you type the name in manually, make sure you capitalise it like that). There does not yet appear to be an option to disable anti-aliasing though.

Jonas

Ok Jonas,

that solved at least a few items.
Lazarus is complaining about fpcsrc files, which I didn't install. I installed FPC2.2.2 and Lazarus only.
So I guess I have to go and install the source now.

thanks,

Paul

Zitat von Paul :

FYI:
I want to improve a few things in the lazarus installer to make paths and defaults more convenient. I hope to find some time this week.

Mattias

Ok,

placing it all in the /Developer/ folder seems more logical to me. FPC should do the same imho (for Mac OS X).
Are you writing this installer or is this a joint effort ?

Paul

Paul wrote

placing it all in the /Developer/ folder seems more logical to me. FPC should do the same imho (for Mac OS X).

FPC is a unix command line application. Those belong under /usr/local/ (it's the reason of existence for that hierarchy). Putting it under / Developer would not make it any easier to use, since /Developer (or / Developer/fpc/usr/bin or so) is not in the default command line path either, and there is not a single double-clickable application in the Mac OS X FPC distribution (well, none that does anything useful when you execute it like that anyway).

Jonas

Ok,

but I give it up for the moment.
I can't find any files at all, just downloaded fpcsrc, but I can't find it anywhere.
Cant find it Mac help also.
I need a book first ...
So it's something for next week

thanks,

Paul

Paul wrote

but I give it up for the moment. I can't find any files at all, just downloaded fpcsrc, but I can't find it anywhere.

What can you not find? The downloaded file, or the files it installed? The downloaded file is probably in the downloads folder in your home directory (or in Safari, choose Window->Downloads and click on the magnifying glass next to the file).

The files it installed are again somewhere under /usr/local, probably. In the installer, you can choose File->Show Files to see where it puts everything (ignore the "." at the start of the path names).

Jonas

thanks Jonas,

but this works only when you know were to find it. I can't find them with Finder and that's where I should find it. It's too irritating for me now, and therefore I need to learn Mac OS X first.
I know myself, and if it gets too irritating, changes are that I will stop for good with the Mac.
And since documentation shipped with the iMac is zero, I need a book first.

Paul

Zitat von Paul :

Ok, placing it all in the /Developer/ folder seems more logical to me. FPC should do the same imho (for Mac OS X).

I don't know. I have to read Mac guide lines and see how similar projects solved it.

Are you writing this installer or is this a joint effort ?

It's a joint effort with the other lazarus developers.

Mattias

Hi,

I just want to let you know, that I am still active for a lazarus installation using fink. At least some of the problems Paul encounterd should be solved by this. "fink install lazarus" will resolve all dependencies for freepascal, the sources and libs like gdkpixbuf. It will also put a link to the lazarus application into /Applications/ Fink, so new users will have less of a problem finding it. The setup is also supposed to offer three versions, carbon, gtk and possibly gtk2. The current implementation if based on the dated 0.9.24 version and I am not going to put much more effort into this, but wait until the 0.9.26 release is out. I already did a number of test, so finishing up should be possible within a few weeks.

Installation with fink means all the nitty gritty details live in / sw/..., which can produce problems on its own and surely will. However, the main advantage of fink is that the combo "fink purge lazarus" and "fink purge fpc" will properly take care of uninstalling including preference files. As much as i can say on the basis of my experinces with fink, it should be possible to do all corrections and settings within fink.

All the best - Michael Schindler, aka mischi.

Strange. I just tested with a new IDE and it found the /usr/local/bin/ppc386 automatically.

You can type it in. I don't know what exactly is listed in the default dropdown menu and why.

For unix/i386 the list is:

/usr/local/bin/ppc386
/usr/bin/ppc386
/opt/fpc/ppc386

Mattias

A book like The Visual QuickPro Guide to Unix for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger or Mac OS X Tiger in a Nutshell is more likely to answer the questions you are asking at the moment than a Mac OS X book. I don't think that either of the books has been updated for OS X 10.5 yet. This shouldn't be a big problem as I don't think that anything much changed at the Unix level between the two OS versions.

Regards

Peter

Finder. I find that *very* annoying too. Use the command line to find what you need. I think it's located in /Application/Utilities/Terminal or something similar

Yes, as I mentionted before, it feels like returning to the DOS age. If and only if I get FPC /lazarus running, I hope it's the only application I have to write for the mac...

Paul

Paul wrote

I can't find them with Finder and that's where I should find it. It's too irritating for me now, and therefore I need to learn Mac OS X first.

Yes, they hide the unix directories, so you can't see them with Finder. I find that *very* annoying too. Use the command line to find what you need. I think it's located in /Application/Utilities/Terminal or something similar

then navigate using unix commands:

cd /usr/local/share/
ls -l

I not a big fan of this approach which treats the users as idiots. There are some ideas here about how to show the unix directories in finder. I never tested them myself, but certainly will:

http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?t=35034

Paul wrote

Yes, as I mentionted before, it feels like returning to the DOS age. If and only if I get FPC /lazarus running, I hope it's the only application I have to write for the mac...

The terminal is an excelent tool once you learn how to use it.

The terminal is an excelent tool once you learn how to use it.

So is cmd on Windows, but it's all but user friendly and there should be more user friendly solutions anno 2008 imho
But his is OT here.

Paul

I removed all files (that I could find) and reinstalled fpc-fpcsrc-lazarus. I downloaded the files from www.hu.freepascal.org/lazarus According to the docs in
http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/OS_X_Programming_Tips, I should now be able to start lazarus by clicking on the lazarus icon in the application folder.
I can't fond it though, also not with spotlight.
Where can I find this ?

OT: is it normal that new windows are hidden behind others? When downloading the packages from this site (very slow), I was under the impression that nothing happened at all: the progress window is always hidden.
The same with starting a new instance of Finder: click and search to find the new instance under other windows.

Paul

Where does it say that? I don't see it.

I can't fond it though, also not with spotlight. Where can I find this ?

Please reread the three previous messages I wrote about using cmd- shift-g, and/or the one where I gave the link to make Spotlight find files in the Unix directories.

OT: is it normal that new windows are hidden behind others? When downloading the packages from this site (very slow),

The ftp server is explicitly limited to 100kb per connection to avoid overloading the connection.

I was under the impression that nothing happened at all: the progress window is always hidden.

Safari's download window comes to the front if it wasn't already open. If it was already open and you download another file, it doesn't come to the front. The advantage is that your window doesn't lose focus all the time when downloading multiple files. The disadvantage is that if you don't know this, it can indeed be confusing.

The same with starting a new instance of Finder: click and search to find the new instance under other windows.

There is only one instance of the Finder running at all time. If you open a new Finder window (cmd-n or File->New Finder Window), it does appear in front.

Jonas