Why should I install ports and source when I only ever use pkg?

Zagzigger

Zagzigger

I know this question will appal some, but if I only ever use pkg, what is the advantage of me loading ports and source on a new installation?
It is a genuine question, not some kind of troll. Thanks.
 
you don't need either and also ports and source distribution don't need each other
so you may have only one of them (src, ports), both, or none
there are a few ports that need /usr/src/sys but the vast majority don't
 
Are you on a Desktop machine? If so after upgrades sometimes it can become necessary that you need to build a driver from ports.
Example: There is a upgrade from 13.1 to 13.2 coming up. After this upgrade it's most likely that your graphics driver is not
working anymore if you use drm-kmod (Intel or AMD). To fix it you need to build it yourself from ports.
The same is needed for vboxdrv (Virtualbox).
From there unless you want to save a few MB disk space just have it installed and it is there when you maybe need it.
 
meaw229a said:
Are you on a Desktop machine? If so after upgrades sometimes it can become necessary that you need to build a driver from ports.
Example: There is a upgrade from 13.1 to 13.2 coming up. After this upgrade it's most likely that your graphics driver is not
working anymore if you use drm-kmod (Intel or AMD). To fix it you need to build it yourself from ports.
The same is needed for vboxdrv (Virtualbox).
From there unless you want to save a few MB disk space just have it installed and it is there when you maybe need it.
Click to expand...
Yes, as you guessed, I'm running a desktop machine, but in my case I'm running nvidia. Besides that one case, what's the best strategy for the future? Thanks, I appreciate your advice.
 
Both the ports tree and the source tree aren't that much data. It's better to have them and not need it than needing it and not having it.

The source tree (/usr/src) will be updated with freebsd-update(8) if it exists, so it stays nicely in sync with the version you have installed. For the ports tree I would use git(1) or net/gitup (portsnap(8) is also possible but that might get removed some time in the future).
 
SirDice said:
Both the ports tree and the source tree aren't that much data. It's better to have them and not need it than needing it and not having it.

The source tree (/usr/src) will be updated with freebsd-update(8) if it exists, so it stays nicely in sync with the version you have installed. For the ports tree I would use git(1) or net/gitup (portsnap(8) is also possible but that might get removed some time in the future).
Click to expand...
Very much appreciated. I wasn't so much trying to save space, but trying to understand more. Thanks again.
 
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