Answers: Keeping FreeBSD Applications Up-To-Date

[Jorn Argelo]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2004 16:14:16 -0500, Richard Bejtlich wrote
> Three weeks ago I posted notification of my article Keeping FreeBSD
> Up-To-Date.  Today I am happy to announce the publication at
> TaoSecurity.com of Keeping FreeBSD Applications Up-To-Date:
> 
> http://www.taosecurity.com/keeping_freebsd_applications_up-to-date.html
> 
> The new article takes the same case-based approach I used in the 
> first paper. The article's sections include:
> 
> - Introduction
> - Installation Using Source Code
> - Installation Using the FreeBSD Ports Tree
> - Installation Using Precompiled Packages
> - Updating Applications Installed from Source Code
> - Updating Packages by Deletion and Addition
> - Updating the Ports Tree, Part 1
> - Manually Updating a Package Using the Ports Tree
> - Updating Packages with Portupgrade, Part 1
> - Updating Packages with Portupgrade, Part 2
> - Updating the Ports Tree, Part 2
> - My Common Package Update Process
> - Creating Packages on One System and Installing Them Elsewhere
> - Addressing Security Issues in Packages
> - Conclusion
> - Acknowledgements
> - References
> 
> Sections show commands to run, explanations of what they do, sample
> output, applications versions, and pros and cons of each upgrade
> method. Please send feedback to taosecurity at gmail dot com.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Richard Bejtlich

Hi Richard,

It looks good. It's nice to have a piece of documentation regarding this 
subject all on one page. However, you should be aware that most information, 
if not all, can be found in the handbook as well. I truely praise the 
handbook, but it's size can be rather annoying when to find something. It has 
an online search function, of course, but for offline use it can be a little 
maze from time to time.

So I like things like this. It has similair quality of the handbook but all 
subjects in one page. Great. 

However, it would be nice if you actually wrapped the text to make it 
readable. Preferably based on resolution if possible. And it requires some 
cosmetic attention as well. Type commands in differen colours, for example. 
Make important notes larger, use a different colour again, or give them a 
special font. Also, it would be nice if you went a little bit deeper into the 
commands. For example, you use portugrade -varR. Elaborate what they do. At 
least, I would like to know it if I was the newbie reading it.

Other then that, it looks fine. I didn't read everything though, but from what 
I've seen it looks nice.

Cheers,

Jorn.