FreeBSD newbye simple question

[Lowell Gilbert]

Vittorio <v.demartino2 at virgilio.it> writes:

> Experienced linux debian user, recently I smoothly moved to linux gentoo 
> (BSD compliant) AND to FreeBSD 5.2.1.
> 
> 1) I want to tailor my freeBSD slice according to my machine (gentoo 
> experience is helpful!). Now, while i I know how to compile an 
> application in /usr/ports I cannot find sources of the "base system" I 
> had to install when starting the first installation from scratch.
> 
> Where are those sources?

The system sources are normally installed in /usr/src if they are
installed.  If they are not, you can install them from sysinstall, or
keep up with the latest sources on any of several "branches" of
FreeBSD.  See the FreeBSD Handbook section on "The Cutting Edge."

> 2) The questions' question: where can I read what are the options I can 
> use with a certain source package and how can I use them when 
> make(-ing) the program?

Not clear what you mean, but "man ports" will give you some
information about how things work in general.  Many ports have a
"config" target (so you can "make config" and set some config
options).  I often look at the port makefile to see what variables it
supports.  

If you're not using the ports system, then naturally you're on your
own; every third-party program can set its options any way the author
wished. 

> 3) It goes without saying that many freebsd commands are the same as in 
> linux but I cannot find the freebsd command equivalent to the linux 
> command 'free' giving info about the size of memory used by the 
> system's cache, buffers, swap, etc.

Try top(1), swapinfo(8), vmstat(8), and so on (and see the "SEE ALSO"
sections in their manual pages).  Also, if you're not highly
knowledgeable in Virtual Memory architecture techniques, see the FAQ
entries titled "FreeBSD uses far more swap space than Linux. Why?" and
"Why does top show very little free memory even when I have very few
programs running?".

Good luck.