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For the past few months I’ve occasionally run into the need for X11 to run some applications. Whenever this happens I always come back to the same realization that the X11 package built for OS X Tiger is not available on Apple’s website and that you need the original package on the Tiger install cd to get it.

Since my install cd is in another state I tried to use the pkg file from someone else’s install cd, and (probably because of some hidden files somewhere on my system) it still didn’t work and there was no X11 in my Applications/Utilities folder!

So here is my new solution that is easy and works:

1) find your build of OSX on Apple’s open source library for Darwin:

http://www.opensource.apple.com/darwinsource/

2) find the X11-.*. file and grab the gzip file.

3) unzip the archive and move into the directory:

cd X11-*.*.*

4) run the shell script:

./build.sh

*note: the script took around an hour to install everything, and you’ll need to give it your password near the end or run as sudo.

My applications seem to be duplicating themselves. Tiger, I won't give up on you yet!

Since last week (without restarting this MacBookPro) my OSX Finder icon has jumped ship from the Dock and is now hiding on my Desktop. I can't click it or move it, and the only way to get to the Finder is by clicking around it; it just sits there, smiling at me. Rapscallion!