xfce 4.4 questions

[Erik Trulsson]

On Sat, Aug 25, 2007 at 06:11:42PM -0400, Richard Deal wrote:
> Folks,
> 
> I'm trying to install xfce 4.4 on my FreeBSD 6.1 box, (which I just 
> upgraded via sysinstall). It ain't workin' and I sure could use some help. 
> Full disclosure: I'm new to FreeBSD, although I do have a basic working 
> knowledge of *nix fundamentals.
> 
> I was able to install xfce 4.2, but the install is broken -- allow me to 
> explain. Xfce 4.2  does install, I can start it, but several features don't 
> work. For example, according to the docs I should see a menu bar (and 
> options) on xfterm, but it isn't there. Several other install defaults are 
> busted too. I've reinstalled the OS several times from a 'minimal' install 
> to 'install EVERYTHING', via the CD, upgrades via sysinstall, via FTP. All 
> were successful). I've installed  XFCE4 according to your docs ("pkg_add -r 
> xfce4") several times, and from /usr/ports/x11-wm/xfce4 ("make install 
> clean"), but still the same problems. So, I thought I'd try installing a 
> newer version of xfce (4.4).
> 
> First question: what is a 'meta port', what does it do and what are it's 
> limitations?

A 'meta port' is a port which doesn't install anything itself, but just
depends on a bunch of other ports so that they can all get pulled in
automatically.

> Can't find anything in your docs that speak to this (nor any 
> of the books I have, most notably the recent 'FreeBSD 6 Unleashed'). 
> Reading the Ports page of your site, specifically the *xfce-4.4.1_1 
> <http://www.FreeBSD.org/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/ports/x11-wm/xfce4>   *metaport; 
> 'meta' seems to imply "run this and you'll install all the basics you need 
> to run XFCE 4.4". Either it doesn't work or I've misinterpreted this. Under 
> xfce-4.4.1, it says: "Requires:...." -- do I really have to install 
> _every_single_pkg_listed_ BEFORE I install the xfce-4.4.1 metaport??? If 
> so, that seems a bit much. Why can't there be a single manifest file which 
> calls/installs all those required pkg's as a part of the metaport 
> installation? In order to install xfce 4.4, do I have to manually install 
> each and every file/port/pkg listed there which references xfce4.4?

No,no.  The point of the ports system/packages is that all the required
ports will be pulled in and installed automatically.

> 
> After doing a fresh OS install (6.1) from CD (X-Kern-Developer package), 
> followed immediately by an upgrade (via sysinstall/FTP) which included an 
> istall of the entire ports tree, I tried several ways to install xfce4.4:
> 
> 1) downloaded xfce-4.4.1_1.tbz and ran pkg_add against it. It started but 
> all I got was "Package <insert_names_here> not found!". If it knows what it 
> needs, why can't it just bust out to your ftp site and get it and install 
> it?

Because you did not use the '-r' flag to pkg_add which tells it to do
exactly that?


> 
> 2) downloaded from your site everything in 
> /pub/FreeBSD/ports/packages/x11-wm/xfce/,  which seemed to have all those 
> required files. Once downloaded, as noted above I ran pkg_add locally. Some 
> packages installed, but most did not because their dependencies (such as 
> glib-2.12.13) were not there. If xfce4.4 needs glib-2.12.13, why can't it 
> (and any others) be included in .../x11-wm/xfce/ ?

Because they live elsewhere.

> 
> 3) Hmmmm....Ok, so then I ran pkg_add 
> ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/packages/All/xfce-4.4.1_1.tbz, 
> thinking this 'All' directory must have every bloody thing it needs. Nope. 
> At this point, I start drinking. Heavily.
> 
> Btw: it was in your Handbook I found the reference to 'pkg_add -r xfce4' to 
> install xfce4x (found here: 
> http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/x11-wm.html). 
> Well, I searched your site for any package specifically labeled 'xfce4' and 
> I couldn't find it. The closest I got was the dir "xfce" under 
> ftp.../pub/FreeBSD/ports/packages/x11-wm/. So, having seen your list of 
> ports (and the 'package' listed under each), where can I find a complete 
> list of packages?
> 
> I've cruised many forums for info - nothing truly helpful.
> 
> Bottom line, I don't really need xfce 4.4; I'd be happy if 4.2 just worked 
> (all of it) on a basic level. I'm trying to learn here, and so far the 
> books, the docs, and other FreeBSD articles out there don't seem to jibe. I 
> keep reading (my paraphrase): "It's easy! Just run 'pkg_add -r 
> package_name' and your done!'.  Maybe this is true for some packages, but 
> not the ones I've tried.
> 
> I respect and admire the work you are doing, and what you have 
> accomplished. I'm not giving up on FreeBSD. Any advice/info would be 
> appreciated.
> 
> cheers,
> 
> - r
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
<Insert your favourite quote here.>
Erik Trulsson
ertr1013 at student.uu.se