*BSD News Article 46736


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From: kargl@apl.washington.edu (steve)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: correct use of ports ?
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 1995 09:50:16 -0800
Organization: University of Washington
Lines: 34
Message-ID: <kargl-1107950950160001@mac-pal.apl.washington.edu>
References: <3tsc4r$5g5@stang.netspace.net.au> <kargl-1007951755090001@mac-pal.apl.washington.edu> <3tslkf$kaj@agate.berkeley.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: mac-pal.apl.washington.edu

In article <3tslkf$kaj@agate.berkeley.edu>, jkh@violet.berkeley.edu
(Jordan K. Hubbard) wrote:

> In article <kargl-1007951755090001@mac-pal.apl.washington.edu>,
> steve <kargl@apl.washington.edu> wrote:
> >After you install the port, you can delete the source files; ie
> >
> >%rm -rf /path/to/port_dir
> 
> This is actually a bad idea since you'd delete all the meta files
> for the port itself in addition to the `extracted' copy.  Just make
> install to install the port, make clean to clean up after the
> build and, if you ever decide you wish to get rid of the installed
> copy later, use pkg_delete to delete it.  Don't just go removing
> files with rm!  In the case of both the ports's data files AND the 
> resulting port that it installs, some other utilities are keeping
> track of them and should be used for any removal operation.  If you
> don't want to fuss with any of the package stuff manually then
> you can even use the `pkg_manage' command to add and delete packages.
> 

Jordan,

You are right about this being somewhat suspect, but if you have limited
disk space you might need to free some space.  Deleting the contents of a
ports directory seems (IMHO) better than say the manpages.  500MB fills
up pretty quick (especially if you sup/ctm the source to help test behind
the scenes:-).

Yes, I know about pkg_*.  I use it when necessary.  I have found, however,
that on ocassions pkg_delete does not delete all traces of an install package.
Orphaned man pages seem to be the biggest problem.   Also, `make install'
registers the newly installed package with the pkg_*.   Doesn't this create
/var/db/pkg/.... which should contain ALL the info need by pkg_*.