GnuCash & OSX advice

[David Reiser]

On May 9, 2005, at 6:34 PM, R Hannes Beinert wrote:

> Hello!
>
> A friend of mine was just learning GC on her OSX 10.3/Panther system
> using the fink package, when the system was upgraded to 10.4/Tiger.
> As it appears that a fink install package is not forthcoming until
> the G2 port is released, I need some advice about what might be the
> smartest thing to do at this point.  Unfortunately, simply waiting
> seven months for G2 isn't an option, since some type of accounting
> package is needed fairly soon.
>
> Since ultimately I would like GC to be used, is there another OSS or
> commercial package that could be used in the short-term where (A) the
> import of data into GC would be easy, and (B) where the paradigm
> shift between programs wouldn't be too terribly great for an average
> user?
>
> I would ordinarily ask if there might be some inducement which could
> be offered to the fink package maintainer to find a workaround for
> this issue with Tiger, but I suspect that since it's a problem with
> the Gnome 1.4 libraries, it's probably not very likely to happen. :-(
>
> In any event, any advice would be gratefully accepted!
>
> Hannes.

It may not be quite so severe as requiring a wait for G2. While I can't 
claim deep knowledge, the maintainer's comments look a lot like some 
other complaints of a bug in Apple's new dynamic linker. With more than 
just the Gnucash crowd inconvenienced by the bug, there is even a 
chance Apple will fix their linker soon (meaning at least well before a 
late fall Gnucash 2 release).

I've even seen one suggestion on fixing a fink info file with a patch 
from another project.

Both these things suggest that fixes won't solely rely on the Gnucash 
fink maintainer, so resolution might be much quicker than initially 
anticipated.

I'll be flailing at this a bit as soon as I can get my more modern 
machine upgraded to 10.4 (I'm not willing to try compiling gnucash on 
an old G4...). Meanwhile, keep an eye on the fink 10.4/transitional 
package list. If the release number goes up, it might be worth a try 
installing it. I think 1.8.11-1 is the version that shows up in the 
fink database in 10.4/transitional (unstable).

Dave