From owner-freebsd-ports@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Nov 25 18:03:54 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9B26C16A41F for ; Fri, 25 Nov 2005 18:03:54 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from moose@freebsdfreaks.net) Received: from mail.paystone.com (yvr-n-01.paystone.com [209.53.184.65]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id EF72D43D53 for ; Fri, 25 Nov 2005 18:03:53 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from moose@freebsdfreaks.net) Received: by mail.paystone.com (Postfix, from userid 1004) id 7E8011DF93; Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:03:47 -0800 (PST) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mail.paystone.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4D4FC1DF4E for ; Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:03:47 -0800 (PST) Received: from mail.paystone.com ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (mail.paystone.com [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 68525-07 for ; Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:03:47 -0800 (PST) Received: from [192.168.3.91] (unknown [192.168.2.253]) by mail.paystone.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id ECD6D1DF4D for ; Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:03:46 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <438751FD.3000603@freebsdfreaks.net> Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:03:41 -0800 From: Matt Crossley User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0.7 (X11/20051117) X-Accept-Language: en-us, en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org X-Enigmail-Version: 0.93.0.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Virus-Scanned: at paystone.com Subject: Question about Port maintainership X-BeenThere: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Porting software to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 18:03:54 -0000 Hi all, A couple of questions regarding port maintainership, etc. There is a port that I recently needed to install that I haven't used in quite some time (sysutils/autopsy). The port is quite outdated, and hasn't been updated since March, 2004. The version is at 1.73, whereas the actual application itself is up to Version 2.06, released in October, 2005. I've sent the current maintainer an email asking if either he'd update the port, or if I could take over maintainership and do regular updates on the port. That was about 3 weeks ago, and I have heard no response from him. What should be my next step? Should I make a patch to update the Makefile and submit a PR? Or submit a change maintainer PR? I don't want ot step on anyone's toes, but it's been over a year since an update by the maintainer, and I'd like to pick up the slack. My next question has to do with an application that I think would be useful, but is not in the ports tree. It is a commercial, proprietary product that is free for download, without having to click and agreement or accept a EULA. I'd like to add this port, and I've contacted the company in question (over 1 week ago), but they have not responded yet. So I'm wondering what the policy is regarding adding ports where the developer or company has not explicitly approved this addition to the ports system. In many respects, it would be beneficial for them to have more exposure, but maybe they wouldn't appreciate it for some reason? Any guidelines there? I've started to go through the Porter's Handbook, and I'm looking forward to being able to make contributions, as minor as they are, to the growth of FreeBSD. :-) Any insight would be much appreciated! Thanks, Matt