When I put up any version of FBSD I usually try to install Maxima. Which fails because the sub-install of gnuplot fails.

[Michael L. Squires]

I just compiled maxima from ports using default settings under 
FreeBSD 8-STABLE (updated 12/24/2011) and had no problems with the compile 
(i.e., I just su'd to root, did a "cd /usr/ports/math/maxima;make").

This was under the amd64 version of FreeBSD (hardware is a Tyan S4882 quad 
Opteron).

I just upgraded from 7.4 to 8.2-RELEASE and then, as usually, updated to 
the "STABLE" version using "cvs".  I usually don't upgrade to a newer 
version until it becomes obviously necessary due to either features I need 
in the newer release or the ending of support for the version I'm 
currently using.

I wonder what versions you've been trying to install, since I've rarely 
had problems installing from ports when upgrading as described above.

Mike Squires
mikes at siralan.org
UN*X at home since 1986