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Date:      Tue, 4 Feb 2003 09:30:30 -0700
From:      James Earl <mtntrip@telus.net>
To:        pippo@bellnet.ca
Cc:        freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: portupgrading problems
Message-ID:  <20030204093030.6ebaba44.mtntrip@telus.net>
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.2.20030204093227.00b80788@mail.host45.com>
References:  <5.1.0.14.2.20030204093227.00b80788@mail.host45.com>

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On Tue, 04 Feb 2003 10:00:23 -0500
pippo@bellnet.ca wrote:

> Some time ago I chose FreeBSD over all other *nix systems because I found 
> the system better managed, easier to administrate, better supported and 
> simpler to update and upgrade both the OS and the programs - especially 
> through portupgrade.
> Several times I have encountered glitches in the update process; some I 
> managed to figure out what the problem was, some other I just had to wait 
> until the port was corrected then re-cvsup and portupgrade. This, on 2 
> similar FBSD v.4.7 installations.
> 
> Currently I have encountered problems with updating KDE3 (because kdegames3 
> had some sort of problem - I don't have time for the games anyway, but this 
> messes up the update - and the audio/arts program also had problems) and 
> Openoffice 1.02.
> Open office seems to be a particular case as it requires 4Gb of space for 
> installation on *nix! I cannot think of another program that seems to be so 
> bloated for installation. Is there an insurmountable problem here? I did 
> find a port for FBSD to install the Ooo v.1.0.1 but now to update - whammo! 
> It seems to me that it is rare that one needs the huge capacity disks that 
> seem so current - I have 1 10gb and 1 34Gb raid array, but they are used 
> for different OS's and for storage. It is impractical to have to 
> re-organize your entire system just for 1 program. :((
> 
> If the port is faulty and is uploaded to the port site, then the downloaded 
> port sits in the machine and then you have to figure out what went wrong.
> What is annoying is the enormous time it take to reinstall stuff like KDE3 
> and Open office only to find that the installation has failed and sometimes 
> the old installarion is screwed up... Fortunately, I have not committed to 
> using FBSD and the *nix program exclusively as, so far, I have found that 
> there are still nasty kinks in the gears that take away too much time from 
> creative productivity for maintenance
> 
> Can someone explain the best way to deal with the updating process? How to 
> minimize updating problems?
> Thanks in advance,
> PJ

This is what I have found to work for me...  For OpenOffice.org, I don't even bother building the monster.  It's just not worth it... instead I download the pre-compiled package from http://projects.imp.ch/openoffice/ .  I haven't had any problems with these packages, and they are usually kept right up-to-date.

As for KDE3.  I don't use it, but I use GNOME2 sometimes.  I personally don't bother using the "meta-port" (x11/gnome2 and x11/kde3), as it installs more than I ever need or want (like games).

My recommendation would be to install only what you want -- and the dependencies of course :)



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