When coming across a port that does not build or install:
Find out if there is a fix pending for the port in the Problem Report database. If so, the proposed fix may work.
Ask the maintainer of the port for help. Type
make
or read the maintainer
Makefile
to find the
maintainer's email address. Remember to include the name
and version of the port (send the
$FreeBSD:
line from the
Makefile
) and the output leading up to
the error when you email the maintainer.
Some ports are not maintained by an individual but
instead by a mailing
list. Many, but not all, of these addresses look
like <freebsd-listname@FreeBSD.org>
.
Please take this into account when phrasing your
questions.
In particular, ports shown as maintained by
<ports@FreeBSD.org>
are
actually not maintained by anyone. Fixes and support, if
any, come from the general community who subscribe to that
mailing list. More volunteers are always needed!
If you do not get a response, use send-pr(1) to submit a bug report (see Writing FreeBSD Problem Reports).
Fix it! The Porter's Handbook includes detailed information on the “Ports” infrastructure so that you can fix the occasional broken port or even submit your own!
Use pkg_add(1) to instead install the package.
All FreeBSD documents are available for download at http://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/doc/
Questions that are not answered by the
documentation may be
sent to <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org>.
Send questions about this document to <freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.org>.