Recently while building updates it comes to a point where it fails finding some perl libraries. So I thought I should re-install perl. When I type # pkg_delete 'perl*' though, it states that there are ports depending on perl (which is quite natural btw) and doesn't remove the port. I am new to FreeBSD and don't know what can be done at this point. Please help! EDIT: Just ran # portmaster -f lang/perl5.16 It seems to be compiling right now. Will let you guys how it goes.
Apart from the main perl port, there are also perl modules which start with p5-. Re-building only perl will not solve the problem if the problem is caused by one of the modules. Sometimes during upgrading, ports do fail to install correctly - it happens to me a lot, so you just re-build. If you are curious, you can see all perl modules installed on your system with: $ ls -d /var/db/pkg/p5-* First check for any inconsistency in your ports/package structure, then re-build all perl dependent ports: # portmaster --check-port-dbdir Be carefl when deleting ports that are supposedly in the ports db (in folder /var/db/ports). For some reason, there can be packages that fail to register themselves correctly. Look in /var/db/pkg for the port you are about to delete to make sure there is no folder / directory by similar name in there. If there is, the check report is a false one and you should not delete. Conservative # portmaster p5- Or comprehensive (but perhaps overkill) # portmaster -r perl- Deleting a port is always possible by below: # make deinstall -C /usr/ports/lang/perl5.12 The C flag removes the need to cd all the way down to the actual folder. I use perl5.16, no problems. You can also give these 2 tools a try: ports-mgmt/bpm and ports-mgmt/bxpkg. Not for the install / deinstall but as a tool to search through all ports fitting a given name or description.
Thanks a lot for the help. My problem resolved when I installed a p5-* library, don't remember which.
