Two chapters of the FreeBSD Porter's Handbook discuss the ordering of the variables in the port Makefile: Chapter 5. Configuring the Makefile https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/porters-handbook/makefiles/
Chapter 15. Order of Variables in Port Makefiles https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/porters-handbook/order/ PORTSCOUT is mentioned in Section 5.9: https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/porters-handbook/makefiles/#makefile-portscout where is is shown following the LICENSE block. PORTSCOUT is not mentioned explicitly in Chapter 15, in which case 15.11. The Rest of the Variables, should apply: "And then, the rest of the variables that are not mentioned in the previous blocks, placing PORTSCOUT right before the Targets." Portlint and portclippy both seem to prefer the Chapter 15 ordering. Neither position really makes sense to me. Since PORTSCOUT relates to the PORTVERSION, it makes the most sense to me to include it in the PORTNAME block. Thoughts?
