On Jul 27, 2020, at 01:53, Ian Wadham wrote:

> I’m just saying that I can execute the file 
> 'work/destroot/Applications/MacPorts/…/kpat’ instead of 
> ‘/Applications/MacPorts/…/kpat’ — at the command-line of course.

That executable may link with libraries installed by the port. If so, the 
executable would probably use the libraries at their installed location, not at 
their destroot location. If you have an old version of the libraries installed, 
that might cause problems. If you don't have the port installed at all, you'll 
get library not found errors. The application may also look for other data 
files at their installed location. All things considered, it's less problematic 
to install the port and then use the installed files.

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