ok... got a chance to test this morn.
miller test02 (pd icon just bounces in the dock)
$ /Volumes/U/Pd-0.48-0test2.app/Contents/Resources/bin/pd -verbose
input channels = 2, output channels = 2
Pd-0.48.0 ("test2") compiled 08:40:39 Jul 19 2017
port 5400
"/Volumes/U/Pd-0.48-0test2.app/Contents/Resources/../MacOS/Pd" 5400
Waiting for connection request...
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
^CPd: signal 2
gui socket 0 - closing audio...
closing MIDI...
... done.
$
my compile with tk 8.6.6 (tk "feather" icon just bounces in the dock
$ /Volumes/U/Pd.app/Contents/Resources/bin/pd -verbose
input channels = 2, output channels = 2
Pd-0.48.0 ("test1") compiled 16:38:24 Jul 19 2017
port 5400
"/Volumes/U/Pd.app/Contents/Resources/../MacOS/Pd" 5400
Waiting for connection request...
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
WARNING: connect to pd failed, retrying port localhost:5400.
^CPd: signal 2
gui socket 0 - closing audio...
closing MIDI...
... done.
$
tell me what to try and i will since i have access to student computer next couple weeks....