MacPorts: install packages for use in Texmaker

Question

I'm using Texmaker and want to install the package algorithmicx to write some pseudocode. I've tried using MacPorts to download and install the package but I can't seem to load it in Texmaker or in TeXShop. Also, MacPorts appeared to download a new distribution of TeX Live. How do I use the downloaded package, and what does MacPorts actually do with the packages I download?

Answer 1

If you are working on a mac you probably have an application called TeX Live Utility installed. You can use that to install and update packages.

`Tex Live Utility' keeps itself up-to-date, if you really want to use the terminal you can use:

sudo tlmgr update --self
sudo tlmgr update --all

Answer 2

MacPorts just like ports on any BSD type systems (NetBSD uses different terminology but pkgsrc is essentially what Free, Open, Mir people call ports) is just a collection of Makefiles which will fetch source code, patch it as needed, resolve dependencies, compile, and install package for you. Unlike regular Mac packages which are installed in small containers packages compiled from ports use shared libraries. That is why they tent to be much smaller than the regular Mac packages which are self sufficient. I am an OpenBSD guy with very little experience on Mac. In my experience MacPorts some times do not play well with Aqua and some GUI systems tools. Also in my limited experience for things like TeX you are better of to use native Mac package than the port. Native package tent to be more quickly updated. I would limit MacPorts use to the things which are not available as Mac packages. For Mac I would definitely go with the "official" MacTeX distribution.