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For the latest version of GNU Octave there are currently '''no''' installer files (e.g. DMG installer) available.
GNU Octave is primarily developed on GNU/Linux and other POSIX conformant systems. GNU Octave for Mac OS X is readily available using [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_management_system package managers] such as [http://www.finkproject.org/ Fink], [http://www.macports.org/ MacPorts], and [http://mxcl.github.com/homebrew/ Homebrew].


However, using the [https://brew.sh/ Homebrew package manager], one can simply install and update Octave on macOS for all latest Apple Silicon architectures (M1 and newer).  
About version numbers (as of May 2012):
*The 3.6.x are current releases.
*The 3.4.x are previous releases.
*The 3.2.x are very old releases.


{{Note|'''GNU Octave {{Release}}''' is the current stable release.}}
==Manual Installation from Source==


== Homebrew ==
The page [[Octave for Mac]] provides minimalistic instructions for building Octave from source on Mac OS X. Additional [http://www.gnu.org/software/octave/support.html support] for those who need assistance in building Octave is available.
→ ''Link to [https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/octave Octave package] there.''


'''Install GNU Octave using Homebrew:'''
==Package Managers==


Follow the [https://brew.sh/ Homebrew installation instructions].
A package manager is a software tool to automate the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing software packages for a computer's operating system in a consistent manner. It typically maintains a database of software dependencies and version information to prevent software mismatches and missing prerequisites.
Packages are distributions of software, applications and data. Packages also contain metadata, such as the software's name, description of its purpose, version number, vendor, checksums, and a list of dependencies necessary for the software to run properly. Upon installation, metadata is stored in a local package database.
Operating systems based on Linux and other Unix-like systems typically consist of hundreds or even thousands of distinct software packages; in the former case, a package management system is a convenience, in the latter case it becomes essential.


It is advised to install the '''Command Line Tools''' type in the [https://support.apple.com/guide/terminal/welcome/mac Terminal App] before Homebrew:
There are three reputable package managers available for Mac OS X. GNU Octave for Mac OS X is readily available using [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_management_system package managers] such as [http://www.finkproject.org/ Fink], [http://www.macports.org/ MacPorts], and [http://mxcl.github.com/homebrew/ Homebrew].


  sudo xcode-select --install
The most recent version of Fink's Octave package, MacPorts' Octave port, and Homebrew's Octave formula are generally not the same. Please check the web sites for these package managers to determine if the version of Octave you desire is available.


A window will pop out to guide the installation.
===XCode Dependency===


Then, come back to the [https://support.apple.com/guide/terminal/welcome/mac Terminal App] type:
Each package manager requires that XCode be installed. In part this is to provide an initial set of development tools. It *may* be possible to substitute the [https://github.com/kennethreitz/osx-gcc-installer Mac OS X gcc Installer] by Kenneth Reitz, but this alternative has not yet been tested. If any curious/industrious users experiment with using Kenneth's solution over Apple's XCode, please let Octave's developers know of the results. Or, if you prefer, just update the itemized list below. It is recommended that users with XCode already installed avoid installing Kenneth's solution, as it may break your existing XCode installation.
* Fink: The Mac OS X gcc Installer has not been tested.
* MacPorts: The Mac OS X gcc Installer has not been tested.
* Homebrew: The Mac OS X gcc Installer has not been tested.


  brew update
===Fink===
  brew upgrade
  brew install octave
 
  octave --gui


In case of trouble try <code>brew doctor</code>, see the [https://docs.brew.sh/Troubleshooting Homebrew Troubleshooting Guide].
[http://www.finkproject.org/ The Fink project] is an effort to port and package open-source Unix programs to Mac OS X. Fink uses [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dpkg dpkg] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Packaging_Tool APT] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian Debian's] package management system), as well as its own frontend program, fink (which is implemented as a set of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perl_module Perl modules]).


To start the Octave GUI without typing commands in Terminal every time, please create a launcher app with the Script Editor as described below.
====Simple Installation Instructions====


== Create a launcher app with the Script Editor ==
*Install XCode via the Mac App Store.
** Once installed, install the Command Line Tools from XCode's Apple Menu > Preferences > Downloads.
*Follow [http://www.finkproject.org/download/srcdist.php Fink's installation instructions]. For those who prefer it, there is a GUI available for Fink, [http://finkcommander.sourceforge.net Fink Commander].
*Fink has excellent support for Octave and includes recent as well as dated versions. A list of what Fink has available for Octave is [http://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/browse.php?summary=octave here]. To install the latest Octave, type {{Codeline|<nowiki>sudo fink install octave</nowiki>}} at the Terminal's command line.  For those running the 64 bit version of Fink, it is recommended that {{Codeline|octave-atlas}} be installed instead as there are some bugs/features with Apple's vecLib for the X86_64 architecture.  Octave has many dependencies which will be downloaded and installed prior to Octave. The entire installation process can take a few hours.
* Fink should also be used to install [[http://octave.sourceforge.net/packages.php packages] for Octave.  For example, the control systems package for Lion may be installed by typing {{Codeline|fink install control-atlas-oct362}} at a terminals command line.


For example Homebrew installs Octave to {{Path|/usr/local/bin/octave}} (or {{Path|/opt/homebrew/bin/octave}} on Apple Silicon) by default. From the [https://support.apple.com/guide/terminal/open-or-quit-terminal-apd5265185d-f365-44cb-8b09-71a064a42125/mac Terminal] application you can enter the command <code>which octave</code> to find out the exact location.
For the {{Codeline|doc()}} function to be supported by Octave, either the unversioned {{Codeline|octave}}, {{Codeline|octave-atlas}}, or {{Codeline|octave-ref}} package must be installed. Essentially, those features used at run-time which don't have a version somewhere in the file path are included in these packages.


If you know the installation location, open the [https://support.apple.com/guide/script-editor Script Editor] application and write the following text in the editor window if you wish to start the Octave GUI by default:
===MacPorts===


do shell script "/usr/local/bin/octave --gui"
[http://www.macports.org/ MacPorts], formerly called DarwinPorts, is a package management system that simplifies the installation of software on the Mac OS X and Darwin operating systems. It is a free/open source software project to simplify installation of other free/open source software. Similar in aim and function to Fink and the BSDs' ports collections, DarwinPorts was started in 2002 as part of the OpenDarwin project, with the involvement of a number of Apple Inc. employees including Landon Fuller, Kevin Van Vechten, and Jordan Hubbard.


For Apple Silicon based systems, use the following script:
====Simple Installation Instructions====


do shell script "/opt/homebrew/bin/octave --gui"
*Install XCode via the Mac App Store.
*Follow [http://www.macports.org/install.php MacPorts' installation instructions].
*MacPorts has good support for Octave. A list of what MacPorts has available for Octave is [http://www.macports.org/ports.php?by=name&substr=octave here]. To install the most recent version of Octave, type {{Codeline|sudo port install octave-devel +atlas+docs}} at the Terminal's command line. Octave has many dependencies which will be downloaded and installed prior to Octave. The entire installation process can take a few hours.
*The variant installed may be important to the user's experience.  The available variants for  {Codeline|octave-devel} are displayed by typing {{Codeline|port variants octave-devel}}.  It is recommended that the user include {{Codeline|+atlas+docs}}.  This will avoid bugs present in Apple's vecLib and enable support for Octave's  {{Codeline|doc()}} function.


Then, in Script Editor, select File>Export. Export As: Octave (or whatever the non-conflicted name you want); File Format: Application (so that it can be run by Finder); Options: Run only; Code sign: Sign to run locally (to avoid annoying asking for permission to access folder each time). Then, you can find and run the GUI application in the Finder.
===Homebrew===


If you want to start the Octave command-line interface (CLI), enter instead:
Homebrew is a package management system that simplifies the installation of software on Mac OS X. It is a free/open source software project to simplify installation of other free/open source software. It is similar in aim and function to MacPorts and Fink. It was written by Max Howell and has gained popularity in the Ruby on Rails community and earned praise for its extensibility.


tell application "Terminal"
====Simple Installation Instructions====
  do script "/usr/local/bin/octave; exit"
end tell


or if Octave is in your default path:
First, install Homebrew:
*Install XCode via the Mac App Store.
** Once installed, install the Command Line Tools from XCode's Apple Menu > Preferences > Downloads.
*Follow [https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew/wiki/installation Homebrew's installation instructions].
* Import the scientific computing packages, including Octave:
<pre>brew tap homebrew/science</pre>


tell application "Terminal"
To install Octave, update to the latest package definitions, install {{Codeline|gfortran}}, and then Octave:
  do script "`which octave`; exit"
<pre>brew update && brew upgrade
end tell
brew install gfortran
brew install octave</pre>


Finally:
Note: If brew complains about not having a formula for octave, the following command should fix it:
* With the script open in the Script Editor app on your Mac, choose "File > Export".
<pre>brew tap --repair</pre>
* In the menu that appears, select "Application" from the "File format" menu, then navigate to the "Applications" folder and save your script there as "Octave.app"


To change the application icon:
The command below upgrades Octave and its dependencies to the latest Homebrew-supported versions:
* Open [[:File:Icon.png|this link]] in a web browser, right-click and select "copy image".
brew update && brew upgrade
* Select "Octave.app" in the Finder, then press {{Key|command-i}} to bring up the file info dialog.
* In the file info dialog, select the icon (in the top left) and press {{Key|command-v}} to paste the Octave icon over it.


== Alternative Package Managers ==
Octave has many dependencies which will be downloaded and installed prior to Octave. The entire installation process can take a few hours.
Note: On Snow Leopard, Octave requires a X server. If you install without, Homebrew will guide you to the XQuartz project (https://xquartz.macosforge.org) where you can download this.


''Instead of Homebrew, the following package managers can be used to install Octave on macOS:
You might find that you need to add:


=== Anaconda ===
<pre>setenv ("GNUTERM", "X11")</pre>


→ ''Link to [https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/octave Octave package] there.''
to your octaverc file, normally located at {{Codeline|/usr/local/share/octave/site/m/startup}}.


Follow the [https://docs.anaconda.com/anaconda/install/mac-os/ Anaconda installation instructions].
In case of trouble, see the [https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew/wiki/troubleshooting Homebrew Troubleshooting Guide], which assists in diagnosing problems and craft useful bug reports.  Bugs may be reported at [https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-science/issues?state=open Homebrew-science's issue tracker].


In the [https://support.apple.com/guide/terminal/welcome/mac Terminal App] type:
==Create a launcher app with AppleScript==


  conda create --name octave
* Open the "AppleScript Editor" application
  conda activate octave
* write the following text in the editor window:
  conda install -c conda-forge octave
 
  octave --gui


'''Note that the use of the option <code>--gui</code> shown above is actually unsupported in the context shown''' (as of 2023 March 31). Expect failure:
<code>


   octave: GUI features missing or disabled in this build
tell application "Terminal"
   do script "/path/to/octave; exit"
end tell


Please refer to Octave contributor [https://github.com/conda-forge/octave-feedstock/issues/102#issuecomment-1598020613 ngam's response] to [https://github.com/conda-forge/octave-feedstock/issues/102 issue #102 at conda-forge/octave-feedstock]. This note is put here to prevent further user frustration. The original author of this wiki page seems to be unaware of this problem and cannot be located to address this discrepant instruction.
</code>


=== MacPorts ===
or if Octave is in your default path:
→ ''Link to [https://github.com/macports/macports-ports/blob/master/math/octave/Portfile Octave package] there.''


Follow the [https://www.macports.org/install.php MacPorts installation instructions].
<code>
tell application "Terminal"
  do script "`which octave`; exit"
end tell
</code>


In the [https://support.apple.com/guide/terminal/welcome/mac Terminal App] type:
* Select "Save as ..." from the "File" menu
* In the menu that appears, select "Application" from the "File format" menu, then navigate to the "Applications" folder and save your script there as "Octave.app"


  sudo port selfupdate
To change the application icon
  sudo port upgrade outdated
  sudo port install octave
 
  octave --gui


== See also ==
* Open [http://wiki.octave.org/File:Icon.png this link] in a web browser, right-click and select "copy image".
* Select "Octave.app" in the Finder, then press command-i to bring up the file info dialog.
* In the file info dialog, select the icon (in the top left) and press command-v to paste the Octave icon over it.


* [[Octave for macOS (outdated)]] contains old installation instructions.
==Installing a Mac OS X Bundle==


== Footnotes ==
A reliable App bundle for Octave on Mac OS X is not presently available. The developers would like to be able to provide an App bundle, but need volunteers to support the effort.  An approach for producing an App Bundle using [http://www.macports.org MacPorts] is being documented [[Create_a_MacOS_X_App_Bundle_Using_MacPorts|here]].  This approach shows promise, but a few problems must be resolved before a bundle will become available.


<references/>
Octave and many other software packages may be installed and updated using one of the three package managers available for Mac OS X. To install using a package manager, see the section on [[Octave_for_MacOS_X#Package_Managers|Package Managers]].


[[Category:Installation]]
{{Warning|Octave-Forge does have [https://sourceforge.net/projects/octave/files/Octave%20MacOSX%20Binary/ App bundles] for old Octave, versions and have problems running on Mac OS 10.6 and above.  The latest App bundle does not provide full support for the printing, or the documentation features of Octave. Other features may be missing as well. For individuals who'd like to use it anyway please carefully follow the instructions for [[Installing Mac OS X Bundle]].}}
[[Category:Macintosh platform]]
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