From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Feb 29 10:47:36 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5BD281065674 for ; Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:47:36 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from kris@FreeBSD.org) Received: from weak.local (freefall.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::28]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 55B3B8FC13; Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:47:34 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from kris@FreeBSD.org) Message-ID: <47C7E2C5.20403@FreeBSD.org> Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:47:33 +0100 From: Kris Kennaway User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.12 (Macintosh/20080213) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: "Chris H." References: <867igo3cih.fsf@zid.claresco.hr> <20080229001906.95tw300jkww0c4sk@webmail.1command.com> In-Reply-To: <20080229001906.95tw300jkww0c4sk@webmail.1command.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Upgrading to 7.0 - stupid requirements X-BeenThere: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Production branch of FreeBSD source code List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:47:36 -0000 Chris H. wrote: > While not a recommended substitution for "good housekeeping". I thought it > worth mentioning: > LIBMAP.CONF(5) > http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=libmap.conf&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+6.3-RELEASE&format=html This can be used safely sometimes, but it is dangerous when attempting to work around library version issues. In general, library version numbers change because the libraries are incompatible, and if you force the issue with libmap (or its cruder cousin, ln -s) you will begin to enumerate the ways in which they are not compatible when your application crashes or misbehaves. Using libmap should not be thought of as a solution unless you know what you are doing and can verify that it is safe on a case by case basis. This may sound like pedantic advice, but I have dealt with many mailing list users who are all up in arms about "how crap the ports collection has become..nothing works any more...freebsd is dying...and *mumble mumble* when I botched an upgrade a few months ago I symlinked all the missing libraries to new versions...don't do that you say? But that cannot possibly be related...oh wait it was, okbye." Kris