#5 MacOS Port

[Anonymous]

Hi, please excuse my ignorance in asking this if it's a rude question, as I'm generally inexperienced with this sort of thing, but is a port to MacOS for this software possible? Your feature set is exactly what is needed for most modern transcriptionists, it's just a shame it doesn't run on other operating systems.

[Rolf]

Dear Anonymous,
sorry to say, I will not be porting footswitch to MacOS, Windows, Chrome, etc.
It is almost certainly because I am a curmudgeon.
Those operating systems are from companies that I have majorissues with, so much so, that I refuse to use their products.
Back in the mists of time, Unix/Linux did not appear to have a decent transcribers tool and so I wrote footswitch for my wife. It was the least I could do, having banned the above operating systems from the house.
That said, you will note that the software is free and open, being written in python, thus anyone who cares to, can migrate it to a platform of their own choosing.
My rudimentary knowledge of MacOS suggests that it is Unix based, so the port shouldn't be that complicated. If not, there is always the option of dual-booting your computer.
Best of luck, :)
Rolf

[Jeff]

Hi, it's me, anonymous. Thanks for the reply!

Your reasoning is totally understandable. I know little to nothing about programming, but if I attempt a port (I don't even know if this is feasible given that I only know literally the first things about basic coding), I will be sure to send a thank you your way.

I find it odd, honestly, that you've created literally the only viable alternative to Express Scribe for foot pedal transcription (which is terrible software from a skeezy company that milks its users for licenses via forced upgrades, which is most of the reason I want an alternative). I came across your program because I was researching how I might make my own, but given I'm a beginner, perhaps attempting a port will be an instructive lesson, if it's not an impossible task.

Cheers!

• Jeff

[Rolf]

Hello Jeff,
trust me, when I say I feel your pain.
Footswitch has evolved but when I started, I had no idea what "python" was, although admittedly, previously I'd been a Cobol programmer, showing my age there.
The grunt work of porting, would I believe, revolve around recognising the foot pedal itself as I rely on the evdev package, which I don't believe is available for MacOS.
I suspect, your easiest option would be to dual-boot your Mac with Ubuntu. There are many writeups available on the web, beware the T2 security chip (sounds like something out of a Terminator film, probably has the same intention).
Sorry I can't be more help but I don't own a Mac and as I explained, I'll not be purchasing one this side of oblivion.
Regards,
Rolf
( To oblivion and beyond!)

Let me know if you make any progress, I'd be interested to hear.