I think it's also covered in the FAQ somewhat, but the manpages should at least give a headstart for new users.
Okay ? Index: packages.7 =================================================================== RCS file: /cvs/src/share/man/man7/packages.7,v retrieving revision 1.45 diff -u -p -r1.45 packages.7 --- packages.7 4 Dec 2019 11:07:58 -0000 1.45 +++ packages.7 26 Nov 2021 12:30:14 -0000 @@ -56,6 +56,24 @@ distribution .Pa compXX.tgz ... .Pc is not composed of such packages, but of plain tarballs. +.Sh FINDING PACKAGES +The official builds feature packages that will help with finding a given piece +of software: +.Bl -tag -width ports-readme-dancer1 +.It pkglocatedb +a +.Xr locate 1 +database of all files in the ports tree +.It sqlports +an sqlite database of all meta-info of each port, along with an index, +and a tool to trace dependencies chains. +.It ports-readmes-dancer +a simple local webserver that interfaces with that database to display information. +.Po +There is a copy of that server hosted on +.Lk https://openports.pl/ +.Pc . +.El .Sh SECURITY CAVEAT The packages are not as thoroughly audited as the main .Ox Index: ports.7 =================================================================== RCS file: /cvs/src/share/man/man7/ports.7,v retrieving revision 1.128 diff -u -p -r1.128 ports.7 --- ports.7 28 Apr 2020 13:11:32 -0000 1.128 +++ ports.7 26 Nov 2021 12:30:14 -0000 @@ -72,10 +72,12 @@ The ports master Makefile, normally loca (but see .Ev PORTSDIR below) -offers a few useful targets. +still offers a few deprecated targets. .Bl -tag -width configure .It Cm print-index -display the contents of the index in a user-friendly way, +display the contents of the index in a +.Sq user-friendly +way, .It Cm search invoked with a key, e.g., .Ic make search key=foo , @@ -98,7 +100,13 @@ All static index generating information or .Pa pkglocatedb packages, which contain -similar information to the old INDEX file, but are more frequently updated. +similar information to the old INDEX file, but are frequently updated. +See +.Pa databases/sqlports +.Pa databases/pkglocatedb +and +.Xr pkg_mklocatedb 1 +for details. .Sh SELECTING A SET OF PORTS One can define .Ev SUBDIRLIST
