A better and more compatible package manager for older macOS 04.04.26

Brew annoying message on my good old macOS hardware:
Error: You are using macOS 13.
We (and Apple) do not provide support for this old version.
You may have better luck with MacPorts which supports older versions of macOS:
  https://www.macports.org

you can use pkgsrc,

"Homebrew, while a boon to macOS users, inadvertently highlights a darker aspect of Apple's ecosystem: its relentless push towards hardware obsolescence. While Homebrew elegantly fills the void left by Apple's limited software distribution channels, it also becomes a crutch for users clinging to older, perfectly functional Macs abandoned by Cupertino's update cycle.

The very need for Homebrew stems from Apple's walled garden approach. Users are often forced to rely on third-party solutions like Homebrew to install software that should, in a more open ecosystem, be readily available. This reliance is exacerbated by Apple's increasingly short support windows for its hardware. As Apple sunsets older machines, users find themselves locked out of the latest macOS versions, and consequently, many mainstream applications.

Homebrew, in these cases, offers a lifeline. It allows users to continue running updated versions of essential tools, even on unsupported hardware. However, this is a double-edged sword. It masks the underlying problem: Apple's deliberate strategy of planned obsolescence, designed to drive consumers towards purchasing new devices.

Furthermore, Homebrew's existence can be seen as tacit acceptance of this practice. By providing a workaround, it reduces the pressure on Apple to extend support for older hardware. Users, content with their Homebrew-managed software, may be less likely to voice their discontent with Apple's restrictive policies.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Homebrew itself is often dependent on the very system it seeks to augment. As Apple makes deeper architectural changes with each macOS release, maintaining compatibility for older hardware becomes increasingly challenging for the Homebrew community. This creates a constant arms race, with Homebrew developers scrambling to patch and adapt to Apple's evolving ecosystem.

Ultimately, Homebrew, while a valuable tool, serves as a stark reminder of Apple's control over its hardware and software. It's a testament to the ingenuity of the open-source community, but also a symptom of a larger problem: a tech giant prioritizing profit over sustainability and user choice, leaving a trail of perfectly capable, yet artificially obsolete, machines in its wake."

https://pkgsrc.smartos.org/install-on-macos/#intel-install

Anonymous

```
#
# Copy and paste the lines below to install the Apple Silicon (arm64) set.
#
# These packages are suitable for anyone running Monterey (14.5) or newer on
# Apple Silicon CPUs, and are updated from pkgsrc trunk every few days.
#
# This should only ever be performed once.  Unpacking the bootstrap kit over
# the top of an existing install will corrupt your package database.
#
BOOTSTRAP_TAR="bootstrap-macos14.5-trunk-arm64-20251114.tar.gz"
BOOTSTRAP_SHA="512a3c209fa0e83b4f614bc6ce11928c10b75cd0"

# Download the bootstrap kit to the current directory.
curl -O https://pkgsrc.smartos.org/packages/Darwin/bootstrap/${BOOTSTRAP_TAR}

# Verify the SHA1 checksum.
echo "${BOOTSTRAP_SHA}  ${BOOTSTRAP_TAR}" | shasum -c-

# Verify PGP signature.  This step is optional, and requires gpg.
# curl -O https://pkgsrc.smartos.org/packages/Darwin/bootstrap/${BOOTSTRAP_TAR}.asc
# curl -sS https://pkgsrc.smartos.org/pgp/ED09C4B0.asc | gpg2 --import
# gpg2 --verify ${BOOTSTRAP_TAR}{.asc,}

# Install bootstrap kit to /opt/pkg
sudo tar -zxpf ${BOOTSTRAP_TAR} -C /

# Reload PATH/MANPATH (pkgsrc installs /etc/paths.d/10-pkgsrc for new sessions)
eval $(/usr/libexec/path_helper)
```

04.04.26

Anonymous

A better and more compatible package manager for older macOS 04.04.26

Information Epoch 1791560984