Changes between Version 21 and Version 22 of FAQ


Ignore:
Timestamp:
Dec 3, 2007, 6:03:30 AM (16 years ago)
Author:
boeyms@…
Comment:

Fix some of the outdated references to DarwinPorts, OpenDarwin and the now-defunct OpenDarwin mailing lists (partially addresses ticket:13456)

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Unmodified
Added
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Modified
  • FAQ

    v21 v22  
    7777
    7878`sources`
    79  In the subfolder `rsync.rsync.darwinports.org_dpupdate1` are the MacPorts sources themselves (e.g., for the port(1) command). A `port selfupdate` updates this from the OpenDarwin rsync server.
    80  In the subfolder `rsync.rsync.darwinports.org_dpupdate_dports` are folders for each port category and the ports themselves therein, where the corresponding Portfile and patches are found. `port sync` and also `port selfupdate` update this from the OpenDarwin rsync server.
     79 In the subfolder `rsync.macports.org/release/base` are the MacPorts sources themselves (e.g., for the port(1) command). A `port selfupdate` updates this from the MacPorts rsync server.
     80 In the subfolder `rsync.macports.org/release/ports` are folders for each port category and the ports themselves therein, where the corresponding Portfile and patches are found. `port sync` and also `port selfupdate` update this from the MacPorts rsync server.
    8181
    8282=== I get `Error: checksum (md5/sha1/rmd160) mismatch for port`. What can I do about it? ===
     
    8888If updating doesn't help, then you should attempt to discover why there is a checksum mismatch. There are several possible reasons:
    8989
    90  1. ''The file is corrupt''. If it was corrupted by the transfer, download it again (`port clean --dist <portname>` and `port install <portname>`). If it is corrupted on the server, there is not much you can do about it. Open a bug in [http://bugzilla.opendarwin.org/ Bugzilla] and assign it to the port's maintainer. As for solving the problem: if there are other mirrors, try one of them. You can also ask if someone has a complete file they can send you on the MacPorts [http://www.opendarwin.org/mailman/listinfo/darwinports mailinglist].
    91  2. ''The developer has performed a "stealth upgrade"''. Sometimes upstream developers make "stealth upgrades" in which they change the contents of their distribution archive but not its version number, without informing MacPorts of this change. Perhaps the developer has repackaged the distribution with a different archiving program, or has fixed typos in the included documentation or made other presumably minor changes that did not warrant a regular release. This practice is not recommended because of the obvious difficulties it presents to MacPorts and other port systems that compute package checksums. Attempt to get confirmation from the developer of the software that this has occurred. If the developer cannot be reached, attempt to determine yourself whether a stealth upgrade has happened. [http://www.google.com/ Search the Internet] and try to locate the older version of the archive that matches the checksum in the portfile. Also download the version currently available on the developer's site, extract both, and compare the contents (for example with `diff -r -u <old> <new>`). If the changes look minor and benign, or there are no changes at all, then it is safe for you to update the checksum in the portfile, and the port maintainer should be informed of this so that they can make the change official. If you cannot determine whether a stealth upgrade has taken place, ask for help on the [http://www.opendarwin.org/mailman/listinfo/darwinports mailing list].
    92  3. ''The file has been tampered with''. It is perhaps somewhat unlikely yet theoretically possible (and it has happened a few times in practice) that the archive being distributed by the developer (or by a mirror) has been genuinely compromised. If a hacker was able to manipulate the developer's (or the mirror's) server, the hacker could have uploaded a revised archive containing malware (a virus, a trojan horse, a spam-sending platform, etc.) of the hacker's choosing, and you would certainly not want to install such software. You must attempt to determine, as above, whether this has occurred by contacting the developer, or by locating an older version of the archive and comparing them. You can also contact the port maintainer or the [http://www.opendarwin.org/mailman/listinfo/darwinports mailing list].
     90 1. ''The file is corrupt''. If it was corrupted by the transfer, download it again (`port clean --dist <portname>` and `port install <portname>`). If it is corrupted on the server, there is not much you can do about it. Open a bug in [http://trac.macports.org/projects/macports/newticket Trac] and assign it to the port's maintainer. As for solving the problem: if there are other mirrors, try one of them. You can also ask if someone has a complete file they can send you on the [http://lists.macosforge.org/mailman/listinfo/macports-users MacPorts users' mailing list].
     91 2. ''The developer has performed a "stealth upgrade"''. Sometimes upstream developers make "stealth upgrades" in which they change the contents of their distribution archive but not its version number, without informing MacPorts of this change. Perhaps the developer has repackaged the distribution with a different archiving program, or has fixed typos in the included documentation or made other presumably minor changes that did not warrant a regular release. This practice is not recommended because of the obvious difficulties it presents to MacPorts and other port systems that compute package checksums. Attempt to get confirmation from the developer of the software that this has occurred. If the developer cannot be reached, attempt to determine yourself whether a stealth upgrade has happened. [http://www.google.com/ Search the Internet] and try to locate the older version of the archive that matches the checksum in the portfile. Also download the version currently available on the developer's site, extract both, and compare the contents (for example with `diff -r -u <old> <new>`). If the changes look minor and benign, or there are no changes at all, then it is safe for you to update the checksum in the portfile, and the port maintainer should be informed of this so that they can make the change official. If you cannot determine whether a stealth upgrade has taken place, ask for help on the [http://lists.macosforge.org/mailman/listinfo/macports-users users' mailing list].
     92 3. ''The file has been tampered with''. It is perhaps somewhat unlikely yet theoretically possible (and it has happened a few times in practice) that the archive being distributed by the developer (or by a mirror) has been genuinely compromised. If a hacker was able to manipulate the developer's (or the mirror's) server, the hacker could have uploaded a revised archive containing malware (a virus, a trojan horse, a spam-sending platform, etc.) of the hacker's choosing, and you would certainly not want to install such software. You must attempt to determine, as above, whether this has occurred by contacting the developer, or by locating an older version of the archive and comparing them. You can also contact the port maintainer or the [http://lists.macosforge.org/mailman/listinfo/macports-users users' mailing list].
    9393
    9494=== Where can I find a GUI frontend for MacPorts? ===
     
    190190
    191191These steps will remove the stray file and force a rebuild of the infrastructure, overriding the release number comparison done by "selfupdate" between the local copy and the one on OpenDarwin servers.
    192 If this workaround does not clear the problem for you, please refer to the [http://opendarwin.org/mailman/listinfo/darwinports main mailing list] with as much information as possible.
     192If this workaround does not clear the problem for you, please refer to the [http://lists.macosforge.org/mailman/listinfo/macports-users users mailing list] with as much information as possible.
    193193
    194194  Be sure you have the latest MacPorts before removing `portuninstall.tcl`. I had the same problem that I couldn't uninstall ports and so I first ran a `sudo port selfupdate` to get the latest version of MacPorts and removed the tcl file afterwards. But when running `sudo port -f selfupdate` it gave me this error message: `Failed to initialize ports system, couldn't read file "/opt/local/share/darwinports/Tcl/port1.0/portuninstall.tcl": no such file or directory` and stopped working.