Q. Can I install and run Pidgin instant messaging client under Mac OS X operating system?
A. Short answer - yes, if you can compile and install X server / GTK+ on Mac OS X.
Long answer - Pidgin (Gaim) is a multi-platform instant messaging client. The software has limited support for many commonly used instant messaging protocols. You need to compile and install an X server, GTK+ and its dependencies yourself. You will not get native aqua interface including installer. I strongly suggest Adium, which is a free instant messaging application for Mac OS X that can connect to AIM, MSN, Jabber, Yahoo, and more.
Fig.01: adiumx in action under Mac OS X (click to enlarge)
You should follow me on twitter here or grab rss feed to keep track of new changes.
Featured Articles:
- 30 Handy Bash Shell Aliases For Linux / Unix / Mac OS X
- Top 30 Nmap Command Examples For Sys/Network Admins
- 25 PHP Security Best Practices For Sys Admins
- 20 Linux System Monitoring Tools Every SysAdmin Should Know
- 20 Linux Server Hardening Security Tips
- Linux: 20 Iptables Examples For New SysAdmins
- Top 20 OpenSSH Server Best Security Practices
- Top 20 Nginx WebServer Best Security Practices
- 20 Examples: Make Sure Unix / Linux Configuration Files Are Free From Syntax Errors
- 15 Greatest Open Source Terminal Applications Of 2012
- My 10 UNIX Command Line Mistakes
- Top 10 Open Source Web-Based Project Management Software
- Top 5 Email Client For Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows Users
- The Novice Guide To Buying A Linux Laptop
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks, been looking for a MSN for Mac alternative. Seems like Adium is just what I need.
Hey,
It is now also possible to run Pidgin nativly under MacOSX without any dependencies on X11 or similar.
I am working on that right now. A current DMG can be found here:
http://www.4shared.com/file/88373414/8e8e8b73/Pidgin-254-ver3.html
For further updates, look here:
http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/8448
bad thing about adium is that it wont work with the camara , does the pidgin work with the camara installed in mi mac?
The pidgin-macosx project http://sourceforge.net/projects/pidgin-macosx/ provides a dmg with a native port of pidgin for macos.
Adium is good, but one of my requirements is to be able to share my chatlogs between my linux and mac machines. I wiuld rather have a common chatlog format, hence a common client for mac and linux.
Pidgin does have plugins that can import and read adium logs, not sure about adium though. But its much easier to go to your logs directory on a shell and read it.
I could also just run finch on a screen session on my linux machine and connect to that from the mac. But then, i will miss the popup notifications.