New and update math/science ports

[Daniel J. Luke]

On Mar 10, 2007, at 12:20 PM, Kevin Ballard wrote:
> The manpage for portfile.7 talks about how to specify dependencies,  
> though I disagree with how it presents port:foo versus bin:foo:bar  
> (or lib:libfoo:foo).

You might disagree, but the port:foo version is preferred as a matter  
of policy (and because it prevents a certain class of problems).

> I believe you should use bin: or lib: if those accurately describe  
> the type of dependency - need libjpeg? use a lib:libjpeg:jpeg  
> dependency. Need gnumake? Use bin:gnumake:gmake. Doesn't matter if  
> apple can or does satisfy these dependencies.

It makes sense to use those styles if you can be sure that anyone  
satisfying the conditions they impose is OK (this is not usually the  
case since they just look for a file and the test cannot make sure  
the file is actually one that is OK). They're a good alternative if  
you want a version of python installed, but don't actually care which  
version it is (for example, how the subversion-pythonbindings port  
works).

> The port:foo variation, I think, should generally only be used if  
> you don't know how the dependency is meant to be satisfied (e.g.  
> what library? what binary? etc.) or if you require a version newer  
> than you know apple provides.

port:foo version should be used unless there is a good reason (tm)  
for not using it.

--
Daniel J. Luke
+========================================================+
| *---------------- dluke at geeklair.net ----------------* |
| *-------------- http://www.geeklair.net -------------* |
+========================================================+
|   Opinions expressed are mine and do not necessarily   |
|          reflect the opinions of my employer.          |
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