FreeBSD 8.2 with pre-built KDE 3.5 package from FreeBSD 7.1 DVD

[Polytropon]

On Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:25:03 +0000 (GMT), Georg Reilinger wrote:
> As far as I know, FreeBSD has completely dropped support for KDE 3.5. 

As for other desktop environments, yes.



> Whether it's the ports, or the pkg_add precompiled binaries. Am I right in 
> assuming this?

I think KDE 3 is still in ports, but will be scheduled for removal,
as KDE 4 is the place where development takes place, and there seems
to be no active development on KDE 3 that can be built (!) on FreeBSD
due to lack of contribution.



> I am currently running a live version of FreeBSD 8.2 with KDE 4.8.

May I ask which live system this is?



> The thing 
> here is, that KDE 4 is simply too heavy for my system. For example: it is 
> impossible for me to have two open shells at the same time. Once I exit a 
> given shell, I can't open another one due to a lack of resources, even after having 
> turned off all the extra stuff - plasma desktop, nepomuk...

Excuse me... you're joking, right? I assume you have a plentycore
processor with Gigs of RAM, and already two shells show a problem?
That sounds totally wrong.

When you play a music file and move the window, do you get skipping
audio, too?

Just scary...



> As a consequence, I can see myself do two possible things, to have a system 
> running with KDE 3.5 once again:
> 
> 1. Go back to an older release of FreeBSD and install KDE 3.5 from the 
> precompiled binaries that are on the DVD donwload version.
> Judging by the release announcements, this should be 7.1.

Yes, this will work. But note that you are running an OS that
has been gone out of support, so you probably won't be able
to install "newer" software using ports or packages. However,
you can use the system "as is", and even use ports as long 
as the distfiles are still kept available online.



> 2. To be honest, I am quite happy with 8.2 and I would like to keep it for 
> some time to come. In other words, is there a way to keep 8.2 and still 
> have KDE 3.5 along with it? For example has anyone ever tried to 
> install a 7.1 pre-built package (KDE 3.5 in this case) on an 8.2 system? 
> Is that be possible?

That should be possible if you install the required compat7x
port on the system. Keep an eye on dependencies and make sure
you won't be shooting your feet. A good start would be to
install the KDE stuff on a "clean" system (right after compat7x)
so there won't be much confusion.




-- 
Polytropon
Magdeburg, Germany
Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0
Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...