Confusion in a fresh desktop install

[LoganGreystone]

I have been trying to install FreeBSD on my desktop for a few days now, and I would like to point out a few things to help new users avoid getting stuck.
The new Packages (Experimental) installer option does not include ports, so if you want them, you have to install Git or similar and use the handbook, or download them manually from the GitHub repository or similar (do not download the release ports.txz if it is been a while since it was released: you will get outdated ports and no tools installed to update them).
Most of the packages I have installed that have a sample configuration file also install the configuration file itself. For example, when installing security/doas, I get a message saying I need to create a file in /usr/local/etc/doas.conf, but this file is already created, and it is identical to doas.conf.sample in the same directory (and it grants permissions to users that do not exist). ports-mgmt/poudriere is another example.
dbus_enable="YES" in /etc/rc.conf is deprecated, it is no longer necessary to enable dbus and sysrc does not recognize it. No message appears during package installation (which is OK), but I have not seen it mentioned in the forum, and it appears in the handbook when configuring desktops. Another deprecated option seems to be vm.swap_enabled.
x11-wm/labwc installs the executable, but no configuration sample files for this Openbox inspired window manager for Wayland, or at least I have not found them. In other words, if you install it, it works, but if you want to configure it, you have to create autostart, menu.xml, and rc.xml yourself. I recommend checking github.com/labwc/labwc/tree/master/docs, which is not a great resource either, or looking at someone using Openbox, like https://github.com/raven2cz/openbox-config.
The configuration for x11/ly recommended in your installation message and the handbook differ in the following points (first handbook, second message):

Ly:\
:lo=/usr/local/bin/ly:\
:al=root:

Ly:\
:lo=/usr/local/bin/ly_wrapper:\
:al=root:

ttyv1 "/usr/libexec/getty Ly" xterm onifexists secure

ttyv1 "/usr/libexec/getty Ly" xterm on secure

I have tested the ones in the message and they work, I have not tested the ones in the handbook.

If I find anything else, I will share it here. Any other information you would like to add that would make things easier for newcomers is welcome.

 

[SirDice]

The new Packages (Experimental) installer option does not include ports, so if you want them, you have to install Git or similar and use the handbook, or download them manually from the GitHub repository or similar (do not download the release ports.txz if it is been a while since it was released: you will get outdated ports and no tools installed to update them).

You don't need a ports tree if you only install packages.

For example, when installing security/doas, I get a message saying I need to create a file in /usr/local/etc/doas.conf, but this file is already created, and it is identical to doas.conf.sample in the same directory (and it grants permissions to users that do not exist).

When you install a port/package that has a default configuration file it will always be installed as *.sample, it will only create the non-sample named file if it doesn't already exist. The <config> and <config>.sample file will be exactly the same.

dbus_enable="YES" in /etc/rc.conf is deprecated, it is no longer necessary to enable dbus and sysrc does not recognize it.

No, it isn't. And sysrc(8) doesn't check, and certainly won't complain. You can add whatever you want with it, even non-existing stuff; sysrc sirdice_enable="YES" will work perfectly fine. It doesn't do anything, but it'll get added to rc.conf nonetheless.

 

[LoganGreystone]

@SirDice, I am not looking a fight, I just wanted to point out some things that have made my system installation difficult and that I do not currently see documented, although I am sure they will be in the future.

You don't need a ports tree if you only install packages.

I do not just want to install packages, I want to compile with ports-mgmt/poudriere. I understand that ports cannot be converted into a package because it would not update correctly with devel/git, but it is an option that has been removed from the installer, even though I think there will be users who want to install from ports when Packages becomes the official installation method in FreeBSD 16.

When you install a port/package that has a default configuration file it will always be installed as *.sample, it will only create the non-sample named file if it doesn't already exist. The <config> and <config>.sample file will be exactly the same.

I was not aware of this, and it seems to be approved as good. I won't edit my initial message because I do not think it is appropriate, but it is outside the scope of the problems I mention in the thread.

No, it isn't. And sysrc(8) doesn't check, and certainly won't complain. You can add whatever you want with it, even non-existing stuff; sysrc sirdice_enable="YES" will work perfectly fine. It doesn't do anything, but it'll get added to rc.conf nonetheless.

Technically your answer is valid, but sysrc sirdice_enable="YES" and sysrc dbus_enable="YES" do the same thing: nothing (well, except that the boot process has to read a line and marks it as incorrect...). It should be commented out so that it stops being used, just as at one time it was said that sysrc hald_enable="YES" was no longer necessary.