Optimization and speed are indeed an arguable advantage of compiling from source, but another GREAT advantage is the possibility of setting compile-time options and dependencies. I.e. lots of packages have options which can be enabled/disabled only at compile time. For example whether you want Vim with the GUI-version or not (in that case it would have a lot more dependencies, such as X and GTK).
Of course the package maintainers try to choose useful defaults, but they may not suite *your* specific needs. Also the version of binary packages may be a little behind on the ports. So if you want Firefox 0.9 TODAY, you'd have to compile it yourself. I compile most of my programs from source, just for fun. GH On Fri, Jun 18, 2004 at 08:29:12PM +0200, Patrick Useldinger wrote: > Hi all, > > I must say that I was initially interested in the idea of building > software from source - but I am kind of loosing it. > > Certainly, it allows you to compile with the compiler options you want, > you are able to optimize the binaries for your CPU, but: does it really > matter? Are the speed improvements really visible? > > Dependencies was another argument: you compile with the correct headers > of dependant files, well... is that really so? If you upgraded the > dependant binaries, wouldn't you get the same effect? > > One certain drawback of compiling from source is the compilation time. > Large packages like KDE or OpenOffice take ages, so you can't just > "quickly" upgrade a whole system, or a large part of it. I might add > that I am more the typical desktop user, not using my machines for real > and specific server apps. > > So, my question is basically: did you, in your experience, find that > compiling from source *really* has any serious advantages that make up > for the time it takes? > > -PU > _______________________________________________ > [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" _______________________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
