Keeping FreeBSD updated (the binary way)

[Svein Halvor Halvorsen]

Svein Halvor Halvorsen wrote:
>> I want to make sure I have better routines this time around, when I'm 
>> starting a-fresh. I'd like to keep my system and packages fairly up to 
>> date, and still keep the compiling to a minimum.
>>
>> Is it possible to pkg_add -r packages from -STABLE on the latest 
>> -RELEASE? That is, will the following work, or slowly render my system 
>> to an incoherent state:

Tim Judd wrote:
> This was once not the way to do it.  I read on the handbook recently 
> that they actually advertize to use -STABLE packages if you want more 
> up-to-date programs.

Ok. I also realized that portsnap is more updated than the -STABLE 
precompiled packages. I should perhaps get the INDEX file off the ftp 
server as well. Is there a way to fetch the actual ports tree used to 
produce the current -STABLE package set?

> Why is it you wnat to remove the compiling part of it?  portupgrade, 
> portmaster or any other port management tool will take care of that for 
> you.  Just curious on this one.....

The compilation takes forever. Ok, so my new computer (which isn't 
exactly "new") will be a lot faster than the one it replaces, but still. 
I can always compile coreutils and stuff like that, but larger 
applications, I would want to install binary. Also, there is little 
advantage nowadays in compiling yourself.


	Svein Halvor