(if you don't have a specific interest in ports dependencies fun, you can stop reading now).
Just as an example, my 25 most common dependencies + their deps end up as a list of 283 ports Here's the vars.log excerpt Most of these should be familiar to bulk builders. (which more or less means thinks work as expected) one fun thing is that there are interdependencies in the original 25. oh, and there's a parenting bug wrt cups, which is necessarily a dependency of something else (duh, x11/gtk+3,cups) but doesn't advertize as such ? ===> converters/libiconv ===> databases/mariadb ===> databases/openldap ===> databases/postgresql ===> devel/automoc ===> devel/cmake (databases/mariadb,-main) ===> devel/desktop-file-utils ===> devel/gettext (devel/desktop-file-utils) ===> devel/glib2 (devel/desktop-file-utils) ===> devel/ninja (databases/mariadb,-main) ===> devel/py-setuptools ===> lang/gcc/4.9 (devel/automoc) ===> lang/ghc ===> lang/python/2.7 (databases/postgresql,-docs) ===> lang/ruby/2.2 ===> net/curl (devel/cmake) ===> textproc/docbook (devel/automoc) ===> textproc/docbook-xsl (devel/automoc) ===> textproc/libxml (databases/postgresql,-main) ===> textproc/libxslt (textproc/docbook-xsl) ===> x11/gtk+2 ===> x11/gtk+3 ===> x11/kde4/libs ===> x11/qt4 (devel/automoc) ===> archivers/bzip2 (devel/automoc) ===> archivers/gtar (lang/ghc) ===> archivers/libarchive (devel/cmake) ===> archivers/unzip (textproc/docbook) ===> archivers/xz (devel/desktop-file-utils) ===> archivers/zip (lang/gcc/4.9,-main) ===> databases/db/v4,bootstrap,no_java,no_tcl (lang/python/2.7,-bsddb) ===> databases/db/v4,no_java,no_tcl (databases/openldap,-server) ===> databases/freetds (x11/qt4,-tds) ===> databases/gdbm (lang/python/2.7,-gdbm) ===> databases/p5-DBD-mysql (databases/mariadb,-server) ===> databases/soprano (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> databases/sqlite (x11/qt4,-sqlite2) ===> databases/strigi (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> devel/atk (x11/gtk+2,-main) ===> devel/autoconf/2.65 (databases/openldap,-main) ===> devel/autoconf/2.69 (lang/python/2.7,-main) ===> devel/bison (databases/mariadb,-main) ===> devel/dconf (x11/gtk+3,-main) ===> devel/gettext-tools (devel/desktop-file-utils) ===> devel/gmake (databases/postgresql,-docs) ===> devel/gmp (lang/gcc/4.9,-main) ===> devel/gobject-introspection (x11/gtk+2,-main) ===> devel/json-glib (x11/gtk+3,-cloudprint) ===> devel/jsoncpp (devel/cmake) ===> devel/libelf (devel/glib2) ===> devel/libexecinfo (lang/gcc/4.9,-main) ===> devel/libffi (devel/glib2) ===> devel/libidn (net/curl) ===> devel/libinotify (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> devel/libmpc (lang/gcc/4.9,-main) ===> devel/libyaml (lang/ruby/2.2,-main) ===> devel/metaauto (databases/openldap,-main) ===> devel/mpfr (lang/gcc/4.9,-main) ===> devel/pango (x11/gtk+2,-main) ===> devel/pcre (devel/glib2) ===> devel/re2c (devel/ninja) ===> graphics/colord (x11/gtk+3,-cups) ===> graphics/gdk-pixbuf2 (x11/gtk+2,-main) ===> graphics/giflib (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> graphics/jasper (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> graphics/jpeg (x11/qt4,-main) ===> graphics/libmng (x11/qt4,-main) ===> graphics/openexr (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> graphics/png (x11/qt4,-main) ===> lang/tcl/8.5 (lang/python/2.7,-tkinter) ===> misc/shared-desktop-ontologies (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> misc/shared-mime-info (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base (x11/qt4,-main) ===> multimedia/phonon (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> multimedia/phonon-backend/vlc (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> net/avahi (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> net/cagibi (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> net/librest (x11/gtk+3,-cloudprint) ===> print/cups ===> productivity/attica (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> security/cyrus-sasl2 (databases/openldap,-main) ===> security/libgcrypt (textproc/libxslt,-main) ===> security/qca2 (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> security/sudo (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> sysutils/e2fsprogs (databases/openldap,-server) ===> sysutils/gamin (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> sysutils/upower (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> textproc/aspell/core (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> textproc/docbook-dsssl (textproc/docbook) ===> textproc/enchant (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> textproc/groff (databases/mariadb,-main) ===> textproc/icu4c (databases/openldap,-server) ===> textproc/intltool (devel/glib2) ===> textproc/iso8879 (textproc/docbook) ===> textproc/py-sphinx (devel/cmake) ===> www/nghttp2 (net/curl) ===> x11/dbus (devel/glib2) ===> x11/dbusmenu-qt (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> x11/gnome/adwaita-icon-theme (x11/gtk+3,-main) ===> x11/gnome/at-spi2-atk (x11/gtk+3,-main) ===> x11/gnome/icon-theme-symbolic (x11/gtk+2,-main) ===> x11/grantlee (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> x11/hicolor-icon-theme (x11/gtk+2,-main) ===> x11/kde4/oxygen-icons (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> x11/polkit-qt, (x11/kde4/libs,-main) ===> x11/tk/8.5 (lang/python/2.7,-tkinter) ===> archivers/lzo2 (archivers/libarchive) ===> audio/cdparanoia (multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base) ===> audio/libvorbis (multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base) ===> audio/pulseaudio (multimedia/phonon) ===> audio/tremor (multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base) ===> converters/xmltoman (net/avahi,-main) ===> databases/db/v4, (databases/db/v4,no_java,no_tcl,-java) ===> databases/iodbc (databases/soprano) ===> databases/p5-DBI (databases/p5-DBD-mysql) ===> devel/autoconf/2.13 (devel/libelf) ===> devel/autoconf/2.59 (databases/sqlite) ===> devel/autoconf/2.68 (multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base) ===> devel/automake/1.11 (databases/freetds) ===> devel/automake/1.14 (devel/libinotify) ===> devel/automake/1.15 (print/cups,-main) ===> devel/boost (databases/strigi) ===> devel/cppunit (databases/strigi) ===> devel/doxygen (databases/soprano) ===> devel/harfbuzz (devel/pango) ===> devel/help2man (devel/autoconf/2.65) ===> devel/iso-codes (multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base) ===> devel/jdk/1.7 (databases/db/v4,no_java,no_tcl,-java) ===> devel/libdaemon (net/avahi,-main) ===> devel/libsoup (net/librest) ===> devel/libtool (databases/freetds) ===> devel/libusb1 (print/cups,-main) ===> devel/m4 (devel/bison) ===> devel/orc (multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base) ===> devel/py-babel (textproc/py-sphinx) ===> devel/py-six (textproc/py-sphinx) ===> devel/qjson (x11/dbusmenu-qt) ===> devel/scons (devel/jsoncpp) ===> devel/yasm (graphics/jpeg) ===> graphics/cairo (devel/gobject-introspection) ===> graphics/exiv2 (databases/strigi) ===> graphics/ffmpeg (databases/strigi) ===> graphics/ilmbase (graphics/openexr,-main) ===> graphics/lcms (graphics/libmng) ===> graphics/lcms2 (graphics/colord) ===> graphics/py-imagesize (textproc/py-sphinx) ===> graphics/tiff (graphics/gdk-pixbuf2) ===> lang/vala (devel/dconf) ===> multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/core (multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base) ===> multimedia/libtheora (multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base) ===> print/cups-filters (print/cups,-main) ===> security/gnutls (print/cups,-libs) ===> security/libgpg-error (security/libgcrypt) ===> sysutils/consolekit (graphics/colord) ===> sysutils/polkit (graphics/colord) ===> textproc/clucene (databases/soprano) ===> textproc/docbook2x (graphics/colord) ===> textproc/p5-XML-Parser (textproc/intltool) ===> textproc/py-alabaster (textproc/py-sphinx) ===> textproc/py-docutils (textproc/py-sphinx) ===> textproc/py-pygments (textproc/py-sphinx) ===> textproc/py-snowballstemmer (textproc/py-sphinx) ===> textproc/py-sphinx_rtd_theme (textproc/py-sphinx) ===> textproc/raptor (databases/soprano) ===> textproc/redland (databases/soprano) ===> textproc/xmlto (x11/dbus,-main) ===> www/py-jinja2 (textproc/py-sphinx) ===> www/py-mako (devel/gobject-introspection) ===> x11/dbus-glib (textproc/enchant) ===> x11/gnome/at-spi2-core (x11/gnome/at-spi2-atk) ===> x11/gnome/gvfs (multimedia/gstreamer-0.10/plugins-base) ===> x11/gnome/icon-theme (x11/gnome/icon-theme-symbolic) ===> x11/gnome/librsvg (x11/gnome/adwaita-icon-theme) ===> x11/icon-naming-utils (x11/gnome/icon-theme-symbolic) ===> x11/icontool (x11/gnome/adwaita-icon-theme) ===> x11/vlc (multimedia/phonon-backend/vlc) ===> archivers/libtar (x11/vlc,-main) ===> audio/gsm (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> audio/jack (x11/vlc,-jack) ===> audio/lame (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> audio/libcddb (x11/vlc,-main) ===> audio/libogg (audio/libvorbis) ===> audio/libsamplerate (x11/vlc,-main) ===> audio/libsndfile (audio/pulseaudio) ===> audio/opus (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> audio/speex (audio/pulseaudio) ===> audio/taglib (x11/vlc,-main) ===> databases/p5-SQL-Statement (databases/p5-DBI) ===> devel/autoconf/2.52 (audio/cdparanoia) ===> devel/autoconf/2.61 (audio/tremor) ===> devel/autoconf/2.63 (multimedia/libtheora) ===> devel/autoconf/2.67 (devel/libtool,-main) ===> devel/automake/1.10 (audio/tremor) ===> devel/check (audio/pulseaudio) ===> devel/fribidi (x11/vlc,-main) ===> devel/json-c (audio/pulseaudio) ===> devel/libdvdread (x11/vlc,-main) ===> devel/libnotify (x11/vlc,-main) ===> devel/libsigsegv (devel/m4) ===> devel/libyajl (textproc/raptor) ===> devel/llvm (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> devel/mozjs17 (sysutils/polkit) ===> devel/p5-MLDBM (databases/p5-DBI) ===> devel/py-tz (devel/py-babel) ===> devel/sdl (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> devel/sdl-image (x11/vlc,-main) ===> graphics/graphite2 (devel/harfbuzz,-main) ===> graphics/libdvbpsi (x11/vlc,-main) ===> lang/python/3.4 (devel/boost) ===> math/graphviz (devel/doxygen,-main) ===> misc/gnugetopt (textproc/xmlto) ===> multimedia/libass (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> multimedia/libbluray (x11/vlc,-main) ===> multimedia/libdvdnav (x11/vlc,-main) ===> multimedia/libmatroska (x11/vlc,-main) ===> multimedia/libv4l (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> multimedia/libvpx (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> multimedia/x264 (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> multimedia/x265 (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> multimedia/xvidcore (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> net/glib2-networking (devel/libsoup) ===> net/p5-PlRPC (databases/p5-DBI) ===> print/foomatic-db-engine (print/cups-filters) ===> print/ghostscript/gnu (devel/doxygen,-main) ===> print/ijs (print/cups-filters) ===> print/libpaper (textproc/xmlto) ===> print/poppler (print/cups-filters) ===> print/qpdf (print/cups-filters) ===> security/libnettle (security/gnutls) ===> security/libtasn1 (security/gnutls) ===> security/p11-kit (security/gnutls) ===> shells/bash (graphics/ilmbase) ===> textproc/libebml (x11/vlc,-main) ===> textproc/p5-XML-SAX (textproc/docbook2x) ===> textproc/p5-XML-Simple (x11/icon-naming-utils) ===> textproc/py-MarkupSafe (www/py-jinja2) ===> textproc/py-stemmer (textproc/py-snowballstemmer) ===> textproc/rasqal (textproc/redland,-main) ===> textproc/texi2html (graphics/ffmpeg) ===> www/libcroco (x11/gnome/librsvg) ===> www/lynx (textproc/xmlto) ===> www/py-beaker (www/py-mako) ===> x11/gnome/gcr (x11/gnome/gvfs,-main) ===> x11/gnome/libsecret (x11/gnome/gvfs,-main) ===> audio/celt (audio/jack) ===> audio/flac (audio/libsndfile) ===> converters/libdvdcss (devel/libdvdread) ===> databases/db/v4 (audio/jack) ===> devel/argp-standalone (multimedia/libv4l) ===> devel/gsettings-desktop-schemas (net/glib2-networking) ===> devel/gtest (devel/llvm) ===> devel/nspr (devel/mozjs17) ===> devel/p5-Clone (databases/p5-SQL-Statement) ===> devel/p5-FreezeThaw (devel/p5-MLDBM) ===> devel/p5-Math-Base-Convert (databases/p5-SQL-Statement) ===> devel/p5-Module-Build (devel/p5-MLDBM) ===> devel/p5-Module-Runtime (databases/p5-SQL-Statement) ===> devel/p5-Params-Util (databases/p5-SQL-Statement) ===> devel/p5-libintl (textproc/texi2html) ===> devel/swig (math/graphviz,-main) ===> graphics/gd (math/graphviz,-main) ===> graphics/jbig2dec (print/ghostscript/gnu) ===> graphics/libwebp (devel/sdl-image) ===> graphics/openjpeg (print/poppler,-main) ===> lang/guile (math/graphviz,-main) ===> net/libproxy (net/glib2-networking) ===> net/p5-Net-Daemon (net/p5-PlRPC) ===> print/foomatic-db (print/foomatic-db-engine) ===> print/ghostscript/gnu-fonts (print/ghostscript/gnu) ===> print/poppler-data (print/poppler,-main) ===> security/gnupg2 (x11/gnome/gcr) ===> security/nss (print/poppler,-main) ===> security/py-crypto (www/py-beaker) ===> textproc/p5-Text-Unidecode (textproc/texi2html) ===> textproc/p5-XML-NamespaceSupport (textproc/p5-XML-SAX) ===> textproc/p5-XML-SAX-Base (textproc/p5-XML-SAX) ===> textproc/p5-XML-SAX-Expat (textproc/p5-XML-Simple) ===> devel/libusb-compat (security/gnupg2) ===> devel/npth (security/gnupg2) ===> devel/slib (lang/guile) ===> security/libassuan (security/gnupg2) ===> security/libksba (security/gnupg2) ===> security/pinentry (security/gnupg2)
