UID/GID_OFFSET (Was: Re: WITH_GCC)

[Warren Block]

On Wed, 13 Jun 2012, Mel Flynn wrote:

> On 12-6-2012 2:38, Warren Block wrote:
>> On Fri, 25 May 2012, Mel Flynn wrote:
>>
>>> On 20-5-2012 14:06, Chris Rees wrote:
>>>
>>>> Usually.  Sometimes it's (ab)used to include the relevant bsd.*.mk
>>>> file without adding dependencies (WANT_GNOME), but normally that's
>>>> what WANT_ is used for.
>>>>
>>>> Definitely add a warning that if you want to use a WANT_ variable you
>>>> should also check the relevant Mk/ files to check for syntax.
>>>
>>> What's also not consistent is the use of:
>>> USE_FOO=    42+
>>> which is shorthand for:
>>> USE_FOO=    yes
>>> WANT_FOO_VER=    42+
>>>
>>> Anyway, since Warren is on the job, on one of my travels through pmk, I
>>> turned a corner and met these totally awesome user settable variables:
>>> UID_OFFSET
>>> GID_OFFSET
>>>
>>> No docs on them in pmk itself or share/examples/etc/make.conf. What they
>>> do is add the specified number to the UID and GID that a port defines by
>>> using /usr/ports/{UIDS,GIDS}. This is extremely useful if you are using
>>> multiple jails on one machine and don't want the uid's to clash (shared
>>> memory for example).
>>> It's also useful, if you have different providers for uid/gid
>>> information through the use of NSS modules. Knowing that ports won't
>>> ever get into your "module range" makes you sleep better.
>>> Example in /etc/make.conf
>>> UID_OFFSET=    20000
>>> GID_OFFSET=    ${UID_OFFSET} # best to keep them equal
>>>
>>> Installing for example postgresql, will now use uid/gid 20070 instead
>>> of 70.
>>
>> Okay, I've finally cleared some room to work on this; sorry about the
>> delay.
>>
>> My main question is where to add these descriptions.  Should they go in
>> existing sections where possible?  Or are we talking about a new
>> section, and if so, where?  At the end of the Dependencies section?
>
> Ideally in man7/ports.7, but I see that is quite outdated. It shouldn't
> be in the porters handbook. The variables are useful for end users. The
> handbook maybe?

I understood this to be definitions of the WITH_, USE_, and WANT_ 
variables in the Porter's Handbook to help maintainers understand when 
they should use which style.  The UID/GID_OFFSET variables should 
possibly be a separate thing.