I used the package Install method for first time

[tuaris]

It happened by accident. I never asked the installer to use packages. My selection was for distribution sets. However during the installer process something went wrong (with networking of course), and it had to start over. I'm well aware of all the weird quirks when that happens, so I wasn't surprised when all of a sudden it started downloading and installing packages for the base system. I decided to just 'go with it' and experience this 'wonderful' new feature for the first time.

Whoever designed this and decided it is "better", doesn't use FreeBSD very much or understands computers (seriously). We lose more than we gain.

As I expected the installation time is more than tripled by using packages. My primary criticism of the design is the way the 'system' was split into multiple packages. It has to download multiple pkg files, verify them, extract, read meta data, copy files, update the pkg database, etc... Repeat that for every single base system component. The simple act of installing a small utility like `cat` results in exponential overhead by the added of amount of disk reads and writes. You also get the overhead of the extra space used by creating/using a package. Then you have the extra amount of small files you have to download which comes with it's own overhead.

This is not better, it's a mistake.

 

[Espionage724]

...As I expected the installation time is more than tripled by using packages.

Prior to 15.0 my fastest install time from wiped disk to the shutdown process that shows the uptime was 2m 43s. 15.0-16.0 with pkg was 4-5 mins. I'm not sure if a part with pkg is affecting times or maybe a difference in installer prompts/layout, but the install time difference isn't notable imo.

 

[MG]

It adds the dependdencies of 1 given package.
I never noticed a way to install only 1 package file and ignore everything that it needs. I always use ports and packages mxed and would use that often. The dependencies aren't always really needed. It's a default configuration that assumes all parts of a program are going to be used..