From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG  Mon Jan  9 18:22:35 2012
Return-Path: <owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG>
Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34])
	by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 220B9106568B
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Mon,  9 Jan 2012 18:22:35 +0000 (UTC)
	(envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com)
Received: from wonkity.com (wonkity.com [67.158.26.137])
	by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D64268FC27
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Mon,  9 Jan 2012 18:22:34 +0000 (UTC)
Received: from wonkity.com (localhost [127.0.0.1])
	by wonkity.com (8.14.5/8.14.5) with ESMTP id q09IMVbw031187;
	Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:22:31 -0700 (MST)
	(envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com)
Received: from localhost (wblock@localhost)
	by wonkity.com (8.14.5/8.14.5/Submit) with ESMTP id q09IMVp1031184;
	Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:22:31 -0700 (MST)
	(envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com)
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:22:31 -0700 (MST)
From: Warren Block <wblock@wonkity.com>
To: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de>
In-Reply-To: <20120109190840.9f4db334.freebsd@edvax.de>
Message-ID: <alpine.BSF.2.00.1201091120460.30945@wonkity.com>
References: <CAJxePN+Wrr6K83RGFGERzJGUXc24i95BemPOgxqAJW_2Lsfjpg@mail.gmail.com>
	<20120109190840.9f4db334.freebsd@edvax.de>
User-Agent: Alpine 2.00 (BSF 1167 2008-08-23)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
X-Greylist: Sender IP whitelisted, not delayed by milter-greylist-4.2.7
	(wonkity.com [127.0.0.1]); Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:22:31 -0700 (MST)
Cc: alexus <alexus@gmail.com>, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject: Re: ports vs packages
X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5
Precedence: list
List-Id: User questions <freebsd-questions.freebsd.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>, 
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions>
List-Post: <mailto:freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>
List-Help: <mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>, 
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=subscribe>
X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:22:35 -0000

On Mon, 9 Jan 2012, Polytropon wrote:

> On Mon, 9 Jan 2012 12:17:37 -0500, alexus wrote:
>> Ports vs Packages?
>>
>> /usr/ports vs pkg_*
>>
>> pros/cons
>
> In short:
>
> ports:
> 	pro:
> 		most current, if properly updated
> 		build from source (security!)
> 		apply optimization (speed!)
> 		apply compile-time options (functionality!)
> 		highly configurable
> 		easy updating of installed stuff
> 	cons:
> 		requires time
> 		requires disk space
> 		requires CPU
> packages:
> 	pro:
> 		fast installation
> 		less typing
> 		works good on low resource systems
> 	cons:
> 		not "bleeding edge"
> 		not all ports available as packages
> 		primarily means of "first time installation"

Don't forget that ports build based on installed libraries.  Packages 
have been built on another system and may expect different versions than 
are present on the target system.

A pretty good analogy is custom-tailored versus off-the-rack.