Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 21:32:24 -0600 From: David Kelly <dkelly@hiwaay.net> To: "John Daniels" <jmd526@hotmail.com> Cc: bduk@earthlink.net, freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG, freebsd-ports@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Ports questions Message-ID: <200003240332.VAA19729@nospam.hiwaay.net> In-Reply-To: Message from "John Daniels" <jmd526@hotmail.com> of "Thu, 23 Mar 2000 11:49:58 EST." <20000323164958.68173.qmail@hotmail.com>
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"John Daniels" writes: > Hi: > Thanks for the reply. > > I am trying to get a better handle on how ports functions. I still don't > quite 'get it.' If I use pkg_delete, then only that specific package is > deleted? Correct. > None of the additional packages that were added as dependencies > will be deleted? So I have to delete each of these dependent applications > individually? Does ports keep a list of the dependent applications > somewhere so I know what was installed (and thus, what I would need to > delete)? Yes, but the ports system stores this information outside of the port. Just for kicks try, "more /var/db/pkg/XFree86-3.3.6/+REQUIRED_BY" (assuming you have installed X, and that particular version) and you'll see a listing of all the ports who have declared that they depend on XFree86 to function. Pkg_delete won't delete until this list is empty unless you force it with -f. So, if you are determined to completely clean up after a pkg_delete, then, "cd /var/db/pkg; ls -lt | more" look for the ports who recently changed their directory's "modified" date. Those ports are candidates for removal because their "+REQUIRED_BY" file was removed by your removal of a port. Lets say on a new FreeBSD system w/o XFree86 you decide to install Netscape which depends on XFree86. The install of Netscape casues XFRee86 to be installed too. Later you decide exmh2 is a better email client so it installs tcl and tk (and lots of other things), and tk indicates it depends on XFree86. Then if you decide to pkg_delete Netscape you wouldn't want to pkg_delete XFree86 too because other packages have come to depend on it. Not to mention *you* might happen to be using XFree86 directly. When the last package to depend on another package is deleted, the +REQUIRED_BY file is deleted from that other package. This alters the directory modify time in /var/db/pkg/<whatever_package_it_was> > If I wanted to delete an application which another application > depends on, would I get a warning/option to discontinue?, or would ports > just rebuild the app the next time I started the xyz port which depends on > the deleted app? Yes, you are warned, no, missing ports are not automatically re-installed. # pkg_delete XFree86-3.3.6 pkg_delete: package `XFree86-3.3.6' is required by these other packages and may not be deinstalled: xpm-3.4k fvwm-2.2.2 netscape-communicator-4.7.us tk-8.2.3 xloadimage-4.1 metamail-2.7 [...its a big list] > Wouldn't it seem that if ports were really 'smart' that it would have an > associated database that kept track of dependencies so that when a > port/package is deleted it would prompt the user for permission to delete > each of the dependent apps that are not needed by other apps on the system? > This might be only a minor issue for experienced users but it would give > newbies more confidence in using ports. Just how is it supposed to know you only use XFree86 with Netscape? If you are determined to delete "unneeded" ports simply visit /var/db/pkg and pkg_delete everything you don't know what it does. If somebody needs it then it will tell you exactly who (see above) and you can decide to pkg_delete them too or not. Speaking of smart, I want a button on my keyboard labeled, DWIM NWIT, Do What I Meant Not What I Typed. > Where can I find good/comprehensive documentation on ports? man ports Also Greg Lehey's FreeBSD book. FreeBSD Handbook, file:///usr/share/doc/handbook/handbook.html Also might install /usr/ports/sysutils/pib (Port Index Browser) which is a GUI to the ports system. Pib is the best way I know of to play /usr/ports/* against /usr/ports/distfiles/* to find out what ports have been updated since I last downloaded (and presumably installed) them. -- David Kelly N4HHE, dkelly@hiwaay.net ===================================================================== The human mind ordinarily operates at only ten percent of its capacity -- the rest is overhead for the operating system. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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