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Compile and install lynx browser on OSX 10.6

Looks like after setting up PHP I'm now a compile-my-own adept. Here is my take on lynx web browser.

You may ask why would you need lynx at all? Well. There are many uses: usability and accessibility testing, understanding content layout without CSS tricks, checking SEO points (you see the site about the same as search engine sees it) and much much more. After all it looks so geeky :)

#1. Create src directory in your user folder where all needed files will be stored initially:
mkdir ~/src

#2. Download, compile and install

cd ~/src/
curl -O http://lynx.isc.org/lynx2.8.7/lynx2.8.7.zip
tar xjf lynx2.8.7.zip
cd lynx2-8-7/
./configure
sudo make install

## I you want help to be installed as well:
sudo make install-help

That's it. Now you can call your website say like this:

lynx http://andreys.info

Just a remark on why I wouldn't use pre-compiled version: the installer I found seemed to be somewhat creepy but probably just outdated.

text: 
terminal
mac
tips
Tue, 2010-05-04 14:28

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Comments (8)

Just wanted to say thanks for the info on how to install Lynx!

This will be great for testing my website!

By Anonymous (not verified)
Fri, 2010-05-14 10:39

While the popularity of text browsers has decreased, Lynx has retained a solid share of several niche markets. I would like to thank you for sharing about how to install lynx browser.
KVM Switches

By KVM Switches (not verified)
Tue, 2010-12-21 10:55

Personally i like Linux, it's really great in some cases!

By term papers (not verified)
Thu, 2011-06-16 11:07

As the popularity of text-based browsers decreased, the lynx has maintained a strong share of market niches for many. I want to thank you for sharing how to install the browser Lynx.

By mona (not verified)
Sat, 2011-09-17 12:22

Works for Lion and XCode 4.1 also.

By Andrew Gilmartin (not verified)
Tue, 2011-09-20 16:12

For some reason I type the curl line command and it says
Julia-MacBook-Pro:~ Jools$ cd ~/src/
JuliaMacBook-Pro:src Jools$ curl -o http://lynx.isc.org/lynx2.8.7/lynx2.8.7.zip
curl: no URL specified!
curl: try 'curl --help' or 'curl --manual' for more information
Any ideas?

By Anonymous (not verified)
Thu, 2011-11-17 17:26

It should be capital O as option. I.e.:
curl -O ... (not curl -o).

By robot
Wed, 2011-11-23 11:01

Thanks a bunch! This really helped. Clear and works the first time. :)

By Joyce Miletic (not verified)
Fri, 2012-02-10 17:06