MacOS X Panther, DarwinPorts and X11 SDK
Trying to install PHP5 in DarwinPorts on MacOS X 10.3 (Panther) was so gruelling an experience that I thought I would document it here, for reference. A lot of it was made difficult by just the lack of information (such as where a particular package may be found).
I have 10.3.9 running on my Mac and already had DarwinPorts, X11 and XCode installed (the reason I mention the last two applications will become clear in a second). I also have Apache installed (1.3.3) and wanted to run some of my PHP code on the local webserver. Turns out I do not have PHP installed. No worries, port install php5 you say. That’s where the trouble started:
The port system failed while attempting to fetch some dependencies (cclient). Perhaps an update of DarwinPorts might solve that? Well, the update failed with complaints of missing X11 headers, to be found in the X11 SDK. The message was friendly enough to point out that the SDK was available as part of XCode. Unfortunately, it looks like I did not choose to install the SDK when I installed XCode (btw XCode — 1.x — is available for Panther, contrary to some web pages, and can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Connection after you register and login — for free).
To install the X11 SDK, what is needed is the X11SDK.pkg which unfortunately is not available for download, AFAICT, from the Apple download site (X11User.pkg is what you get when you download X11 from Apple). The X11 SDK, as intimated by DarwinPorts, is indeed available in XCode. Download XCode (1.5 in my case) and mount the dmg. You will find within, a directory named Packages which contains the sought after X11SDK.pkg. Install and enjoy!
You may be wondering at this point: what of my PHP5 install? That, I am sad to report, is still failing on installing cclient which it is trying to obtain from imap-2004g.tar.Z which is a version that does not seem to exist on the mirrors. I need to poke further…
Update: I gave up on PHP5 but did manage to successfully install PHP4.
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JETkoten said:
on October 2, 2006 at 5:21 pm
Thanks! I found your blog on a web search because I was trying to use ports for the first time to install the new GNUCash. I got that X11 SDK missing message too, and don’t have the CDs anymore so I was wondering what I’d be able to do and found your page which pointed out that it’s there in the Packages on the XCode 1.5. I am very very grateful, thanks again for writing this up.
ravi said:
on October 2, 2006 at 5:35 pm
JETKoten, thanks for writing your note. This is the sort of purpose that I hoped my post would serve .. glad to see it did help.
Rob said:
on September 8, 2007 at 12:11 am
Thanks for your note. It all started when I wanted to install MacPorts on my Panther based ppc. I had no idea why the all the ports werent there. I started looking for an update for my xtools which I have misplaced my panther cd. I also had this error after installing my macports suggesting I am missing x11 headers with a recommendation to get x11sdk package and I dont have the original x11 installer! I spent forever searching for it on the web, not to be found. So when I found your thread, that was really helpful, Im not crazy. Apple made this hard.