MacOS – directory structure between mac osx and linux

macosunix

I found that there are some differents between Max osx and linux jsut like ubuntu, etc. is there any introduction about that, or is there any one can make a introduction.

for example:

  1. ubuntu: /usr/lib/

  2. 10.8.2 osx:

    1. /usr/lib
    2. /usr/libexec

Best Answer

While you can shove libraries anywhere you want, and use OS X very similarly to Linux, I suspect you are after information on "the OS X way" of doing things, in which case:

Your question is too broad. While similar in some ways, there are many fundamental differences than between software packaging on OS X and something like Ubuntu - well beyond "stuff goes here on Linux, and here on OS X".

For example, libraries typically live in "bundles" rather than folders like in /usr/lib - either as .Framework bundles which live in /Library/Frameworks or ~/Library/Frameworks (the framework bundles include headers, support versioning etc). Or shared libraries may live in application bundles... etc - each of these is a big topic by itself.

Without a more specific question, any answer shorter than a small book may not be very informative..

This article explains some of the basic locations, and their Linux-equivalents

Apple's documentation on this kind of stuff is extensive (e.g the intro to Frameworks)

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