FreeBSD Porter's Handbook
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# 7.5 Automated Package List Creation

First, make sure your port is almost complete, with only `pkg-plist` missing.

Next, create a temporary directory tree into which your port can be installed, and install any dependencies.

    # mkdir /var/tmp/`make -V PORTNAME`
    # mtree -U -f `make -V MTREE_FILE` -d -e -p /var/tmp/`make -V PORTNAME`
    # make depends PREFIX=/var/tmp/`make -V PORTNAME`

Store the directory structure in a new file.

    # (cd /var/tmp/`make -V PORTNAME` && find -d * -type d) | sort > OLD-DIRS

Create an empty `pkg-plist` file:

    # :>pkg-plist

If your port honors `PREFIX` (which it should) you can then install the port and create the package list.

    # make install PREFIX=/var/tmp/`make -V PORTNAME`
    # (cd /var/tmp/`make -V PORTNAME` && find -d * \! -type d) | sort > pkg-plist

You must also add any newly created directories to the packing list.

    # (cd /var/tmp/`make -V PORTNAME` && find -d * -type d) | sort | comm -13 OLD-DIRS - | sort -r | sed -e 's#^#@dirrm #' >> pkg-plist

Finally, you need to tidy up the packing list by hand; it is not all automated. Manual pages should be listed in the port's `Makefile` under `MAN`n``, and not in the package list. User configuration files should be removed, or installed as ``filename`.sample`. The `info/dir` file should not be listed and appropriate `install-info` lines should be added as noted in the info files section. Any libraries installed by the port should be listed as specified in the shared libraries section.

Alternatively, use the `plist` script in `/usr/ports/Tools/scripts/` to build the package list automatically. The `plist` script is a Ruby script that automates most of the manual steps outlined in the previous paragraphs.

The first step is the same as above: take the first three lines, that is, `mkdir`, `mtree` and `make depends`. Then build and install the port:

    # make install PREFIX=/var/tmp/`make -V PORTNAME`

And let `plist` create the `pkg-plist` file:

    # /usr/ports/Tools/scripts/plist -Md -m `make -V MTREE_FILE` /var/tmp/`make -V PORTNAME` > pkg-plist

The packing list still has to be tidied up by hand as stated above.

Another tool that might be used to create an initial `pkg-plist` is `ports-mgmt/genplist`. As with any automated tool, the resulting `pkg-plist` should be checked and manually edited as needed.

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