Big Sur - MacPorts can't install python to "/Applications/MacPorts"

[cpragman]

On Big Sur, Gatekeeper is preventing MacPorts from installing things in the /Applications directory. To work around this, I've updated /opt/local/etc/macports.conf to specify application_dir to be /opt/local/Applications/MacPorts. However, despite this change to the config file, MacPorts still tried to install python to /Applications/MacPorts.

Error: Failed to activate python39: can't create directory "/Applications/MacPorts": not owner Error: See /opt/local/var/macports/logs/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_macports_release_tarballs_ports_lang_python39/python39/main.log for details. Error: Follow ​https://guide.macports.org/#project.tickets if you believe there is a bug. Error: Processing of port youtube-dl failed

[kencu (Ken)]

Interesting.

Not happening to me, or anyone else I believe.

Wonder what is going on on your system?

[jmroot (Joshua Root)]

Any ports you already installed with the old setting will still have their files in the same locations. You would need to uninstall all ports that put files in applications_dir and install them again to pick up the new setting.

As Ken said though, I'm not aware of any other reports of installing to /Applications/MacPorts being blocked on Big Sur.

[cpragman]

My experience w/ Big Sur so far is that unless I'm installing signed apps, it won't let me make any other modifications to the contents of the /Applications folder unless I reboot into Recovery and turn off Gatekeeper. I'd rather leave Gatekeeper on, so that is why I've set a custom folder for MacPorts applications in the config file /opt/local/Applications/MacPorts

I deleted everything per the instructions here - ​https://guide.macports.org/chunked/installing.macports.uninstalling.html Then verified /opt/local/etc/macports.conf has application_dir set to /opt/local/Applications/MacPorts Then reinstalled macports from the MacPorts-2.7.1-11-BigSur.pkg Ran $ sudo port selfupdate Then tried to install youtube-dl. $ sudo port install youtube-dl

It progresses, up until it gets to Python39, at which point it fails... ---> Installing python39 @3.9.5_0 Error: Failed to install python39: no destroot found at: /opt/local/var/macports/build/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_macports_release_tarballs_ports_lang_python39/python39/work/destroot Error: See /opt/local/var/macports/logs/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_macports_release_tarballs_ports_lang_python39/python39/main.log for details. Error: Follow ​https://guide.macports.org/#project.tickets if you believe there is a bug. Error: Processing of port youtube-dl failed

Looking at the log file for Python39 [ /opt/local/var/macports/logs/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_macports_release_tarballs_ports_lang_python39/python39/main.log ]

I see that it is still trying to install Python into /Applications/MacPorts, instead of /opt/local/Applications/MacPorts. The OS is denying write access to /Applications/MacPorts.

Python39 Log excerpt: :debug:activate activating directory: / :debug:activate activating directory: /Applications :debug:activate activating directory: /Applications/MacPorts :debug:activate Activation failed, rolling back. :error:activate Failed to activate python39: can't create directory "/Applications/MacPorts": not owner :debug:activate Error code: POSIX EPERM {not owner} :debug:activate Backtrace: can't create directory "/Applications/MacPorts": not owner

[kencu (Ken)]

the no destroot found issue could be it.

Please try this:

sudo port clean python39
sudo port -f uninstall python39
sudo port -v install python39

see 55445#comment:8

[cpragman]

That did the trick! Thanks!

[kencu (Ken)]

+1

at present, there is no enduring fix to be had for this rare but intermittent and sporadic problem.