I just took a look at https://pkg.freebsd.org/FreeBSD:15:amd64/base_latest/ <https://pkg.freebsd.org/FreeBSD:15:amd64/base_latest/> and I am instantly disappointed. I was a fan of the idea, but seeing how they decided to make one package for each item is a massive bummer. Why would you split it up this way? When when you install the Mozilla Firefox via package, you don't install every file individually as a separate package.

It's the same concept for FreeBSD. All these files make up a single entity "FreeBSD" the operating system. Why on earth would you install each item that's required to run FreeBSD as a separate package? All this will do is create increased overhead when installing the system (as each package must go through it's verification and transaction process), and all sorts of trouble down the line when dependency hell sets in.

This is not the FreeBSD way.  Very sad, concerned, and disappointed at this design choice.

On 7/30/2025 3:30 AM, Baptiste Daroussin wrote:
On Wed 30 Jul 02:28, vermaden wrote:
Hi,

after short discussion here:
-https://github.com/freebsd/pkg/issues/2485

I got REALLY concerned.

One of THE features and selling points of a FreeBSD UNIX system is the 
'untouchable' Base System.
untouchable is really subjective and has always been, there are so many build
options and one of the selling point for many is the customizability, in
particular for the wildly deploy use case of appliances.

But even on desktops people keeps tweaking the build options...
Without PKGBASE all the features are preserved.

But when You convert to PKGBASE its ... GONE!
Consider this command:

# pkg delete -af

What it does?

It removes all third party packages on 'classic' FreeBSD system without 
touching the FreeBSD Base System.
No it remove all the packages. semantic matters.
What the same "pkg delete -af" command does on a PKGBASE FreeBSD system?

It kills/destroys almost all of the FreeBSD Base System and leaves only two 
PKGBASE packages called:

- FreeBSD-clibs
- FreeBSD-runtime
This is why the vital flag are designed for.
All the rest of Base System is GONE. Destroyed.

You do not even have vi(1) editor ad /rescue is separate not protected 
FreeBSD-rescue package and its also removed.

WTF?!

POLA is the principle that made FreeBSD such predictable system. Where is the 
POLA now?

Why the same *pkg delete -af* command on 'classic' FreeBSD system without 
PKGBASE only removes all third party packages and the same *pkg delete -af* 
literally destroys most of the FreeBSD PKGBASE Base System?

Its crazy ...
Before jumping straight into making a drama, maybe ask for the plan? or discuss
with people involved, or even better propose some help?

The plan is the following for years: either create meta packages which will be
flagged as vital for various combinaison of pkgbase: base, base-minimal,
base-oci etc., etc. and use groups (marked as vital as well) if they are ready
by then. This part has been delayed because: groups are now ready yet in pkg but
might be there by the time 15.0-RELEASE is there.

Bapt

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