Tk Source Code

With Xcode 5.1, Apple has discontinued support for Garbage Collection. After configuring, all attempts to compile Tk (or Tk based extension) dies on the first file with:

error: garbage collection is no longer supported
make[1]: *** [tkStubLib.o] Error 1
make: *** [tcltk] Error 2

Apple recommends transitioning to Automatic Reference Counting (ARC). The process is described at:
https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/releasenotes/ObjectiveC/RN-TransitioningToARC/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40011226

Essentially the memory access routines that trade in Native Cocoa objects need a rewrite to support the new API. (As do extensions like Canvas3d which also trade in native Cocoa objects.)

The native Tk for Cocoa will not compile on OSX with Xcode 5.1 or above until this is fixed. Already compiled binaries seem not to be affected. Tcl and Tk (using X11 emulation) are not affected.