Software Alternatives & Startups

pkgsrc VS Platforma

Compare pkgsrc VS Platforma and see what are their differences

pkgsrc logo pkgsrc

pkgsrc is a framework for building over 17,000 open source software packages.

Platforma logo Platforma

Wireframe library of layouts and UI elements
  • pkgsrc Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-30
Not present

pkgsrc features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    pkgsrc is designed to be a portable package management system and can be used on a variety of Unix-like operating systems, including NetBSD, Solaris, Linux, and macOS. This cross-platform capability makes it a versatile tool for developers working in diverse environments.
  • Consistency Across Systems
    Using pkgsrc allows for a consistent package management experience regardless of the underlying operating system, reducing the learning curve and maintenance overhead for administrators managing multiple systems.
  • Comprehensive Package Collection
    pkgsrc offers a wide range of software packages, providing a robust collection that can meet diverse user needs from scientific libraries to web applications.
  • Quarterly Releases
    With quarterly releases, pkgsrc provides a balanced approach between stability and keeping software up to date, offering users new features regularly while maintaining reliability.
  • Flexible Build Options
    pkgsrc supports a flexible build system, allowing users to customize package builds with specific options or dependencies, tailored to their specific needs or system requirements.

Possible disadvantages of pkgsrc

  • Smaller Community
    Compared to other popular package management systems like apt (Debian/Ubuntu) or yum (RedHat/CentOS), pkgsrc has a relatively smaller community, which might affect the availability of support and community-driven improvements.
  • Potentially Older Software
    While pkgsrc maintains stable quarterly releases, it may occasionally lag behind other systems in terms of offering the very latest versions of certain software, which might not be ideal for users needing the newest features.
  • Manual Configuration
    Setting up pkgsrc might require manual interventions and configurations, which could pose a hurdle for users unfamiliar with its setup process or those who prefer more automated solutions.
  • Dependency Management
    Although pkgsrc is quite capable in dependency handling, some users may find its dependency resolution to be less automatic or seamless compared to other systems which offer more integrated solutions.
  • Performance Overhead
    Because it is designed to be cross-platform, there can be some performance overhead associated with using pkgsrc compared to native package managers that are optimized for specific operating systems.

Platforma features and specs

  • Comprehensive Library
    Platforma offers a wide range of pre-designed components and layouts, which can speed up the design process and provide a solid foundation for various types of projects.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is straightforward and intuitive, making it accessible for both novice and experienced designers. This ease of use helps streamline workflow and increases efficiency.
  • Regular Updates
    Platforma regularly updates its library with new components and templates, ensuring that users have access to the latest design trends and can continually improve their projects.
  • High-Quality Design
    The components provided by Platforma are designed with high quality and professional aesthetics in mind, which can elevate the overall look and feel of any project.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Platforma is compatible with popular design tools like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD, allowing designers to integrate it seamlessly into their existing workflows.
  • Comprehensive UI Kit
    Platforma offers a vast collection of pre-designed UI elements that facilitate rapid prototyping and design for iOS apps, making it easier for designers to create consistent and visually appealing interfaces.
  • Time-Saving
    By providing ready-to-use components, the kit significantly reduces the time spent on designing common interface elements from scratch, allowing developers to focus more on functionality and user experience.
  • Customizability
    Even though it comes as a template, Platforma allows for significant customization options, enabling designers to tailor elements to align with their brand guidelines or specific project needs.
  • High Fidelity
    The components in Platforma are designed with high attention to detail, offering a near pixel-perfect experience in prototyping which can lead to more realistic mockups and presentations.

Possible disadvantages of Platforma

  • Cost
    Platforma is a premium product, meaning it requires a subscription or one-time purchase, which might be a barrier for individuals or small teams with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite the user-friendly interface, there may still be a learning curve for those who are new to using design libraries or who are unfamiliar with certain aspects of the platform.
  • Limited Customization
    While Platforma offers a broad range of components, there may be limitations in customization options, which might restrict the creativity of some users.
  • Dependency on Updates
    While regular updates are a pro, they also mean that users are dependent on the platform's release schedule for new features and improvements, which can be a downside if immediate updates are needed.
  • File Sizes
    The high-quality assets and components may result in large file sizes, which could impact performance and make collaboration on large projects more cumbersome.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    For designers unfamiliar with UI kits or new to Platforma, there might be a learning curve associated with understanding how to implement and customize the components effectively.
  • iOS Specific
    As Platforma is specifically tailored for iOS, its use might be limited for cross-platform applications, necessitating other tools or kits for Android or web interfaces.
  • Cost Factor
    While it provides a robust set of tools, Platforma is not free, which could be a deterrent for freelance designers or small teams operating on a limited budget.
  • Potential Over-Reliance
    There’s a risk of over-reliance on these pre-packaged elements, which might stifle creativity or lead to a homogenized look and feel across different applications that rely heavily on the same design components.

pkgsrc videos

pkgsrc on ChromeOS

More videos:

  • Review - Using pkgsrc for multi-platform deployments in heterogeneous environments, G Clifford Williams

Platforma videos

CUM SE FACE O TRACTARE AUTO,CAR-REVIEW CU O AUTO-PLATFORMA IVECO DAILY .VLOG 81

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to pkgsrc and Platforma)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Package Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Prototyping
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using pkgsrc and Platforma. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, pkgsrc seems to be a lot more popular than Platforma. While we know about 11 links to pkgsrc, we've tracked only 1 mention of Platforma. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

pkgsrc mentions (11)

  • Debian isn't waiting for 2038 to blow up, switches to 64-bit time for everything
    > Most open source software packages are also compiled for BSD variants, they switched to 64 bit time_t a long time ago and reported back upstream any problems. * NetBSD in 2012: https://www.netbsd.org/releases/formal-6/NetBSD-6.0.html * OpenBSD in 2014: http://www.openbsd.org/55.html For packaging, NetBSD uses their (multi-platform) Pkgsrc, which has 29,000 packages, which probably covers a large swath of... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Our Audit of Homebrew
    > https://pkgsrc.smartos.org/install-on-macos/ Note that Pkgsrc is a NetBSD-derived project. * https://pkgsrc.org The Joyent folks leveraged it to allow their customers, who were perhaps not as familiar with Solaris/SmartOS, a larger pool of packages. Pkgsrc was running on Solaris before Joyent, Joyent built on top of it. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Show HN: Brioche – A new Nix-like package manager
    Https://pkgsrc.org/ from netbsd runs on many systems. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Installing packages without an internet connection?
    It seems according to pkgsrc.org that pkgin might follow the PKG_PATH environment variable. You're supposed to set PKG_PATH="http://cdn.NetBSD.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/$(uname -p)/$(uname -r|cut -f '1 2' -d.)/All/", and according to uname(1), -p gives the processor architecture and -r gives the operating system [kernel] release. Source: over 3 years ago
  • pkgsrc.se is no more :(
    It seems like pkgsrc.org hasn’t got the news yet. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Platforma mentions (1)

  • New to Figma, need to be able to prototype rapdily
    There are some decent starters in the community (including some really great OS-native resources), but another option is purchase something like Platforma if you're looking to make interactive wireframes - https://platforma.ws/. Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing pkgsrc and Platforma, you can also consider the following products

Conda - Binary package manager with support for environments.

Contra Wireframe Kit - Open source wireframe kit for design and prototyping 🚀

Homebrew - The missing package manager for macOS

Whimsical Wireframes - Lightning fast wireframing with real-time collaboration.

Yay - Yay is an AUR helper written in go, based on the design of yaourt, apacman and pacaur.

UX Flow Wireframe Prototyping System - Create beautiful user flows prototypes for your next project