Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 08:23:26 -0800 From: "Freddie Cash" <fcash@bigfoot.com> To: leegold <leegold@operamail.com> Cc: newbies@freebsd.org Subject: Re: ports vs. packages Message-ID: <3BFA12FE.2261.2F019FC@localhost> In-Reply-To: <3BFA63E0@operamail.com>
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On 19 Nov 2001 at 22:23, leegold wrote: > Trying to get a handle on difference between ports > and packages re: FreeBsd. > "To Port" the verb, means to make an application, > a program "runnable" on a particular OS. Yes. It usually involves recompiling and/or patching the program to run natively (or via a native compatibility layer) on the new OS. > "A Port" the noun, is usually source code, config > scripts, other stuff, that a user runs the "make" > command on to compile & install a new program. Yes. > A Package is a (compiled) binary, along with > "other stuff" that installs a new program. A package is a pre-compiled port. Installing a package is *exactly* the same as installing the port of the same name, only you don't have to wait for it to compile. > FreeBsd has a ports collection which we can install > on our system it serves as kind of a database to > tell us what ports and pakages ie. what programs > we have installed. No. The ports tree is a source code skeleton that lets you see just what programs are *available* for FreeBSD. You can search the tree, install programs, update programs, remove programs, etc. It's merely a simple way to see what's available and to compile it specifically for your system. The database of what's installed on your system is stored in /var/db/pkg (or something close to that ... I'm on a WinNT box right now). > Is this close to reality? Pretty close. > PS given a choice between > installing a program via a port vs. a package > what should one do? If you have a fast machine (anything over a Pentium Pro), I'd compile a port. That way, it's compiled and optimised for your CPU. Packages are all compiled for the generic 386 instructions. If you have a slow machine, or a slow Internet connection, or you want to install a certain application on multiple boxes, then I'd use a package. Cheers, Freddie PhoenixTek Consulting fcash@bigfoot.com Unix / Networking Services (250) 314-4029 To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-newbies" in the body of the message
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