Can a MacIntel run Linux programs?
 

The reason I ask this question is I've heard about the Mac's Unix roots. To put it bluntly, is it possible to run Linux programs on a Mac without installing a Linux operating system?

Maybe a stupid question, but I'm really not sure of the answer.

[QUOTE=jasong;100730]The reason I ask this question is I've heard about the Mac's Unix roots. To put it bluntly, is it possible to run Linux programs on a Mac without installing a Linux operating system?

Maybe a stupid question, but I'm really not sure of the answer.[/QUOTE]

You can build unix programs and run them on a Mac. The Mac OS is built upon BSD. The Terminal application gives you access to a command line from which you can run almost anything unix.

Rogue,

I have also a Mactel (Macbook Pro) with Os X 10.4.8.
But I am unable to run any linux sieving app sofar.
Even P95 static or dynamic linked won't run (sprime & mpriime).

Or wich programs do you mean?

Thank you

[QUOTE=CedricVonck;100741]Rogue,

I have also a Mactel (Macbook Pro) with Os X 10.4.8.
But I am unable to run any linux sieving app sofar.
Even P95 static or dynamic linked won't run (sprime & mpriime).

Or wich programs do you mean?

Thank you[/QUOTE]
I think rogue is saying that any Linux(or Unix) program can be run on a Mac, but only if it's been compiled on a Mac. So that would mean there are subtle differences.

Excellent chance I'm just misunderstanding, though.

[QUOTE=jasong;100749]I think rogue is saying that any Linux(or Unix) program can be run on a Mac, but only if it's been compiled on a Mac. So that would mean there are subtle differences.

Excellent chance I'm just misunderstanding, though.[/QUOTE]

That would be correct. Although the OS is based on unix, applications have to be built using the Mac OS libraries. It shouldn't be too difficult to take any x86 app that runs on linux and recompile it on OS X. It might require the installation of a third party tool, such as GMP, but it shouldn't be difficult.

And if you want to run Windows applications, without running Windows, then you can purchase [URL="http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/"]this software[/URL].

[QUOTE=Joe O;100780]And if you want to run Windows applications, without running Windows, then you can purchase [URL="http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/"]this software[/URL].[/QUOTE]
In terms of Windows programs, I'm really looking forward to when ReactOS(do a search) is more stable.

no love for mac, even macintel?
 

It seems like nobody really wants Mac users, Intel or otherwise, involved in this project. The FAQs and pages all say vaguely to go try glucas or mlucas, with no guidance as to which will actually work best, especially not on an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz, or anything. the page for mlucas specifically says it's about 80% as fast as an early version of what someone else wrote. And for PPC. Spiffy. All of this info dates to 2005, too.
I tried running mprime, but the binary wouldn't run. I even downloaded the 2414 source, but didn't find a Make for BSD, and as I'm not a programmer I don't know what else I'm supposed to do with it. Fine, I guess I'll just keep running Prime95 on my old AthlonXP until I shut it off in a few months, and that's it. In the meantime, I just installed dnetc a day or two ago, and they're showing me at 5x my previous daily contributions, now. What a waste; that could be bent to Mersenne.

Mandriva Linux
 

Downloaded the mprime259.tar.gz from the mersenne.org site and unzipped it. Tried executing mprime but it returns an error saying 'error while loading shared libraries: libcurl.so.3: no such file or directory' . What do I do now??

[quote=jasong;100730]The reason I ask this question is I've heard about the Mac's Unix roots. To put it bluntly, is it possible to run Linux programs on a Mac without installing a Linux operating system?

Maybe a stupid question, but I'm really not sure of the answer.[/quote]

Linux is strictly speaking only the kernel - everything else is software (mostly GNU). For the Mac a tool called fink is available.

It uses the installation tool from debian linux (apt tools).

Get fink here

[URL]http://www.finkproject.org/[/URL]

It's easy to use and you don't have to compile the programs (they are prepacked).

[quote=Unregistered;169512]Downloaded the mprime259.tar.gz from the mersenne.org site and unzipped it. Tried executing mprime but it returns an error saying 'error while loading shared libraries: libcurl.so.3: no such file or directory' . What do I do now??[/quote]

You need the libcurl - search with your package installation tool for them (however it is called in your distribution) and install it.

[QUOTE=Unregistered;169512]Downloaded the mprime259.tar.gz from the mersenne.org site and unzipped it. Tried executing mprime but it returns an error saying 'error while loading shared libraries: libcurl.so.3: no such file or directory' . What do I do now??[/QUOTE]

If you are on a Mac - as the thread title would suggest - why not get the mprime version built for Mac OS X?