How to setup Xfig onto a Mac machine?

Question

The user manual said that I need to

Get the source of xfig (xfig.3.2.5-alpha3.full.tar.gz) and gunzip and untar the file: Either do: gunzip -c xfig.3.2.5-alpha3.full.tar.gz | tar xvf - or gunzip xfig.3.2.5-alpha3.full.tar.gz tar xvf xfig.3.2.5-alpha3.full.tar

It also said that

There is a version of xfig ported to run on the MacIntosh under the Darwin port of XFree86.

But I didn't find how to setup the XFree86 and even the xfig since I am very new to either Mac OS or UNIX.

Solution

The easiest way is probably to use a package manager like Macports, Fink, Homebrew etc.

For macports the steps are basically

1. Install macports from the correct .dmg from here
2. Install Xcode
3. Update macports sudo port selfupdate
4. Check your shells have /opt/local/bin on the path before other directories
5. Install the xfig port sudo port install xfig

The other managers will have a similar set of instructions.