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Date:      Fri, 21 Apr 2000 00:48:41 GMT
From:      Salvo Bartolotta <bartequi@neomedia.it>
To:        freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   some suggestions for the handbook
Message-ID:  <20000421.484100@bartequi.ottodomain.org>

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Dear FreeBSDers,

While I was reading the new 4.0 handbook and I came across a few=20
curious points.=20

Chapter 4.3 Troubleshooting
Q: So why bother with ports then ?

<SUGGESTION>
Why not add a new list item e.g. something like "The ports mechanism=20
makes every effort to customize a piece of ported software to the=20
specific hardare and software configuration of your system; as a=20
result, software installed via the ports mechanism may work better."
</SUGGESTION>

Q: I did that, but when I tried to put it into /usr/ports/distfiles I=20
got some errors about not having permission.

<REMARK>
I seem to understand that this is no longer relevant, at least it=20
isn't on my 3.4-S and 4.0-S systems. In fact, I can write to=20
/usr/ports/distfiles (e.g. copying tarballs.) If this is the (general=20
?) case, this question should be removed.
</REMARK>

Q: I have heard that some compiler options can cause bugs [omissis]

<SUGGESTION>
Why not add something like "Specifying no option, ie issuing only=20
"make install", is NOT supposed to cause problems, anyway."

This might make things clearer, especially for newbies.
</SUGGESTION>

Q: I like having lots and lots of programs to play with [omissis]

<SUGGESTION>
Why not add a warning such as:
"WARNING: The Ports Collection consists of over 3,000 ports; software=20
conflicts do arise if you install ports thoughtlessly. In particular,=20
ports performing a similar function *might* overwrite one another's=20
files, inter alia. Albeit you can install a great many ports on your=20
system, and even a few ports having similar functions (ie in the same=20
category or subcategory), you should do that *cum* *grano* *salis*"
<SUGGESTION>


I hope this will somehow help :-)

Best regards,
Salvo





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