Well actually, it has been run natively, but it doesn't mean it loves OSX. In fact, M. Gagnon, the GIMP tweaker who we extracted this find from, has been able to build the GNU Image Manipulation Program in Mac OSX with Imiendo's GTK+ porting kit.

This isn't exactly new, but the porting of GIMP to Mac OSX is actually common practice for GTK+ porters, so that they can experience the porting process first-hand and then begin their own porting projects in greater detail. While it isn't exactly required that you know Linux code, it would be a great help to know if what you're doing is right.

But more importantly, perhaps, is that direct porting isn't always as simple as cha-cha. For a basic port, GIMP will sneeze a few glitches once in a while. But more often than not, it wouldn't be safe at all for everyone to use. Plus, as Gagnon found out, the ported program is difficult to distribute because of lack of package support.

If there's anything that you know that you think could help, hop on over to the GTK+ dev site and suggest your input at the forums. It's here you'll be able to view a step-by-step guide to performing your own port.