Side by side
MacPorts vs Shards
Both stand on package managers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMac
MacPorts provides a large, dependency-aware open-source package system focused on macOS. Its sandboxing and build options are useful, while non-macOS support remains experimental and some ports need additional Apple tools.
Visit MacPorts Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1
Shards provides Crystal projects with configuration-based dependency fetching and lockfile-backed repeatability. Its distributed design fits repository-oriented workflows, while Windows and Android support have the stated limitations.
Visit ShardsThe facts
| MacPorts | Shards | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac | Android, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | macports.org | crystal-lang.org |
| On package managers | #59 of 93 | #55 of 93 |
MacPorts: what it does well
- Thousands of open-source packages
- Resolves required dependencies automatically
- Keeps ported software in a private sandbox
- Can create binary installers for remote computers
- Uses a 3-Clause BSD License
What to know first
- macOS is the main project focus
- BSD and GNU/Linux support is experimental
- Some ports require Apple developer tools
- Command-line usage is required
Shards: what it does well
- Reads dependencies from shard.yml
- Lockfile records versions or Git commits
- Distributed model without a centralized repository
- Provides dependency management commands
- Supports reproducible installs
What to know first
- Windows support is still a preview
- Android packages are community-maintained Termux packages
- No centralized package repository
Alternatives to MacPorts Alternatives to Shards The whole list