[OpenIndiana-discuss] A dumb idea

[Stephan Althaus]

On 01/29/21 06:58, Chris wrote:
> On 2021-01-28 19:50, Hung Nguyen Gia via openindiana-discuss wrote:
>> What about just import the FreeBSD Ports system and like DragonflyBSD 
>> uses
>> transformations scripts (https://github.com/DragonFlyBSD/DeltaPorts) 
>> to transform
>> it into illumos-ports something like this 
>> (https://github.com/DragonFlyBSD/DPorts)
>> and enjoying the large amount of software we will never able to port 
>> by our own
>> with little effort?
>>
>> Yes, FreeBSD and DragonflyBSD share more in common than FreeBSD and 
>> Illumos.
>>
>> But people have done this for MacPorts anyway.
>>
>> We can even patch the illumos-ports to output IPS packages instead of 
>> FreeBSD's pkg.
>>
>> This doesn't mean to dump our current oi-userland. illumos-ports and 
>> oi-userland
>> could co-exist.
>>
>> I know it sounds dumb but let's just give it a thought experiment and 
>> imagine.
>>
>> BTW, the case between IPS pkg and FreeBSD pkg is where the copycat 
>> get it better
>> than the original.
>>
>> Yes, FreeBSD pkg is a clone of IPS pkg, for FreeBSD.
>>
>> But they didn't use Python and since their OS still has to installed 
>> on VPS with
>> little RAM so they can't make the ZFS assumption like us, so FreeBSD 
>> pkg doesn't
>> depend on ZFS, it works just fine with UFS.
>>
>> IMHO, FreeBSD is simpler and has better performance than IPS pkg.
>>
>> Yet it supports the almost the same features. It could operate on 
>> FreeBSD 'jail',
>> too. Just like IPS pkg could operate on 'zones'.
>>
>> IPS pkg is overly complicated and a resource hog with poor performance.
>>
>> Unfortunately, we pretty much have to stick with it, for the sake of 
>> compatibility.
> While coming from FreeBSD makes me a bit biased. I think it's a good 
> thing
> to think/talk about. But be warned; FreeBSD pkg(8) comes with it's own 
> set of
> complications. Not something OI would want to inherit. fe; if you 
> build your
> packages/applications from ports (source). You can NOT use package AT 
> ALL.
> Conversely; if you install your applications from pkg(8). You can NOT 
> build
> additional applications from ports/source. They are mutually 
> incompatible.
> Something to think about. :-)
>
>>
> --Chris
>
Taken this idea, to me it would make more sense to try to transform 
joyent's pkgsrc,
as many these pkgs in there are known to build on illumos.
IF it is possible technically and a reasonable effort.

2c